--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-fr/gharana/senia-maihar-gharana' title: 'Senia-Maihar Gharana' author: name: Anonymous updated: '2026-11-05T00:09:40+00:00' type: website summary: "The Senia-Maihar gharana is the sarod line of the school that Allauddin Khan founded at Maihar, a former princely state now in Madhya Pradesh, in the early 20th century. Most sources treat it and the Maihar gharana as one school across several instruments. Allauddin Khan gave his public recitals on the sarod, and his son Ali Akbar Khan became the line's leading sarod player." tags: - 'Senia-Bangash Gharana' - 'Maihar Gharana' image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:type': image/svg+xml 'image:alt': KalaSudha --- # Senia-Maihar Gharana सेनिया-मैहर घराना Allauddin Khan's sarod line at Maihar, carried on by his son Ali Akbar Khan 1 active teachers 1 courses available Sarod Gharana Maihar, Madhya Pradesh Early 20th century Founded By Allauddin Khan The **Senia-Maihar gharana** is the [sarod](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/sarod) line of the school that **Allauddin Khan** founded at Maihar, a former princely state now in Madhya Pradesh, in the early 20th century. Most sources treat it and the Maihar gharana as one school across several instruments. Allauddin Khan gave his public recitals on the sarod, and his son Ali Akbar Khan became the line's leading sarod player. [ Learn This Style ](#learn-section) [Sign in to follow](/en-fr/user/login?flag_anon=follow_term-7&destination=/en-fr/markdownify/taxonomy/term/7) [ Share ](/en-fr/share/term/7) ### Quick Facts Type Sarod Gharana Origin Maihar, Madhya Pradesh Era Early 20th century Active Teachers 1 Courses Available 1 ## Origins & History Allauddin Khan was born in Shibpur, in Brahmanbaria in eastern Bengal, in 1862 or 1881 by different accounts. His disciple Ravi Shankar wrote that his true age was never recorded. In Calcutta he studied voice with Nulo Gopal for about seven years. He then learned instruments from Amritalal Dutt and the violin from Lobo, a Goan bandmaster. He took up the sarod after hearing Ahmed Ali Khan in concert and studied with him, and Ahmed Ali Khan later sent him on to Rampur. There he became a disciple of **Wazir Khan**, a been player of the Rampur court and, in Ravi Shankar's words, a direct descendant of Tansen. The name Senia points to that line, whose own history is on the [Senia gharana](/en-fr/gharana/senia-gharana) page. From 1918 by most accounts (Darbar's artist profile gives 1907) Allauddin Khan served Maharaja Brijnath Singh at Maihar as court musician and teacher, and he stayed until his death in 1972. At Maihar he formed the Maihar Band, an orchestra of Indian instruments, and in 1955 he founded the Maihar College of Music. His brother **Ayet Ali Khan** also trained under Wazir Khan and served at Maihar, and Banglapedia credits him with improving the sarod and the surbahar. Allauddin Khan received the Padma Bhushan in 1958 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1971. > "His true age is not known, because records have not been kept" > > — Ravi Shankar > > My Music, My Life (1968), on Allauddin Khan ## Historical Timeline 1918 ### Court musician at Maihar Allauddin Khan serves Maharaja Brijnath Singh at Maihar from 1918 by most accounts. Darbar's artist profile dates the appointment to 1907. 1955 ### Ali Akbar Khan in the United States Ali Akbar Khan first performs in the United States, at the invitation of the violinist Yehudi Menuhin. 1967 ### Ali Akbar College of Music in California Ali Akbar Khan opens his college in California, after founding it in Calcutta in 1956. The college, now in San Rafael, is where his sons Alam Khan and Manik Khan teach. 1972 ### Death of Allauddin Khan Allauddin Khan dies, having served at Maihar as court musician and teacher since 1918 by most accounts. ## Lineage & Legacy The guru-shishya tradition passed down through generations The sarod line passed through Allauddin Khan's family and his disciples. He taught his son **Ali Akbar Khan** from the age of three, and his nephew Bahadur Khan learned first from his own father, Ayet Ali Khan, then from his uncle at Maihar. Ali Akbar Khan's sons Aashish Khan, Alam Khan and Manik Khan all play the sarod. ### The founder and his brother #### Allauddin Khan 1862 or 1881 to 1972 Founder, sarod player and teacher Disciple of Wazir Khan of Rampur and court musician at Maihar until 1972. He played and taught many instruments but gave his recitals on the sarod. #### Ayet Ali Khan 1884-1967 Sarod and surbahar player Allauddin Khan's brother, who trained under Wazir Khan and served at Maihar. He headed instrumental music at Santiniketan from 1935 and founded music colleges in Comilla and Brahmanbaria. Guru-Shishya Tradition ### Sons, nephews and disciples #### Ali Akbar Khan 1922-2009 Sarod player Allauddin Khan's son, taught by his father from childhood and given a sarod by his uncle Ayet Ali Khan in 1933. He founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in Calcutta and in California. #### Bahadur Khan Born 1931 Sarod player Son of Ayet Ali Khan, who learned the sarod from his father and then from his uncle Allauddin Khan at Maihar. His death year is given as 1979 and as 1989. #### Sharan Rani Disciple of Allauddin Khan A disciple of Allauddin Khan, listed among his pupils beside Ali Akbar Khan, Bahadur Khan and Aashish Khan. Guru-Shishya Tradition ### The founder's grandsons #### Aashish Khan Sarod player Ali Akbar Khan's son and a disciple of his grandfather Allauddin Khan, who plays the sarod. #### Alam Khan Sarod player and teacher Son of Ali Akbar Khan, who began studying with his father in 1989. He teaches at the Ali Akbar College of Music as director of instrumental music. #### Manik Khan Sarod player and teacher Ali Akbar Khan's youngest son, who trained with his father from the age of 13 and teaches sarod at the Ali Akbar College of Music. The gharana system is rooted in the guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) tradition, where musical knowledge and style are passed down through direct apprenticeship over three or more generations. ## Key exponents - Allauddin Khan, founder, sarod player and teacher at Maihar, died 1972 - Ayet Ali Khan, 1884-1967, the founder's brother, sarod and surbahar - Ali Akbar Khan, 1922-2009, sarod, son of the founder - Bahadur Khan, sarod, nephew of the founder, born 1931 - Sharan Rani, sarod, disciple of Allauddin Khan - Aashish Khan, sarod, grandson and disciple of the founder - Alam Khan, sarod, son of Ali Akbar Khan and college teacher ## Legendary Masters of Senia-Maihar Gharana Explore the lives and contributions of the great masters who shaped this gharana's legacy [ ### Brij Bhushan Kabra 1937–2018 Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra (1937–2018) adapted the slide guitar to Hindustani raga. A disciple of Ali Akbar Khan, he recorded Call of the Valley in 1967. ](/en-fr/legendary-masters/brij-bhushan-kabra) ## Musical Characteristics Distinctive style, techniques, and aesthetic philosophy ### Overall Style Darbar writes that Allauddin Khan leaned towards **dhrupad** and brought a dhrupad approach to the sarod and to the other instruments he taught. On the sarod, Banglapedia credits him with the right-hand stroke pattern **diri diri** in place of dara dara. The Ali Akbar College of Music, which calls its tradition the Seni Baba Allauddin gharana, tunes every instrument to C. #### A dhrupad approach Allauddin Khan leaned towards dhrupad, the older court vocal form, and carried its approach and the been style of his teacher into the sarod. #### Diri diri strokes Banglapedia credits Allauddin Khan with introducing the right-hand pattern diri diri on the sarod, in place of the older dara dara. #### Tuned to C The Ali Akbar College of Music, founded by Allauddin Khan's son, tunes every instrument to C in the line's teaching. ## Signature Repertoire Allauddin Khan created new ragas. The Daily Star names **Hemanta**, Durgeshwari, Meghbahar and Prabhatkeli among them, and Manj Khamaj is the best known. His son Ali Akbar Khan played them on the sarod and taught them at his college, where the tradition goes by the name Seni Baba Allauddin gharana. ## Compare with Similar Gharanas Understand how Senia-Maihar Gharana differs from other traditions Select a Gharana to Compare: Senia-Bangash Gharana Maihar Gharana | | Senia-Maihar Gharana (Current) | Senia-Bangash Gharana (Comparing) | |---|---|---| | Type | Sarod | Sarod | | Origin | Maihar, Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior | | Era | Early 20th century | | | Style | Darbar writes that Allauddin Khan leaned towards dhrupad and brought a dhrupad approach to the sarod and to the other instruments he taught. On the sarod, Banglapedia credits him with the right-hand stroke pattern diri diri in place of dara dara. The Ali Akbar College of Music, which calls its tradition the Seni Baba Allauddin gharana, tunes every instrument to C. | Simon Broughton of Songlines writes that Amjad Ali Khan learned from his father to carry the vocal traditions of dhrupad and khayal onto the sarod. Amjad Ali Khan stops the strings with the nails of the first two fingers of his left hand, and Broughton credits nails on steel with the sarod's clear, muscular sound. Broughton also notes his fast staccato passages up and down the instrument. | [View Senia-Bangash Gharana Details ](/en-fr/gharana/senia-bangash-gharana) | | Senia-Maihar Gharana (Current) | Maihar Gharana (Comparing) | |---|---|---| | Type | Sarod | Sitar | | Origin | Maihar, Madhya Pradesh | Maihar, Madhya Pradesh | | Era | Early 20th century | Early 20th century | | Style | Darbar writes that Allauddin Khan leaned towards dhrupad and brought a dhrupad approach to the sarod and to the other instruments he taught. On the sarod, Banglapedia credits him with the right-hand stroke pattern diri diri in place of dara dara. The Ali Akbar College of Music, which calls its tradition the Seni Baba Allauddin gharana, tunes every instrument to C. | Allauddin Khan leaned towards dhrupad and brought a dhrupad-based approach into sitar, sarod, violin and flute. Nikhil Banerjee said his teacher brought the style of the sursringar, surbahar and veena to the sitar, and credited him with introducing the kharaj, an extra thick string for the bass Sa, the tonic. Mobarak Hossain Khan, in Banglapedia, credits him with changing sitar playing by applying sarod technique to it. | [View Maihar Gharana Details ](/en-fr/gharana/maihar-gharana) ## Learn Senia-Maihar Gharana Style Master the Senia-Maihar Gharana tradition through our curated courses Foundation to Advanced · Indian Slide Guitar ### [Indian Slide Guitar](/en-fr/course/indian-slide-guitar) Taught by [Pandit Debasis Chakroborty](/en-fr/artist/debasis-chakroborty) Instrument: Indian Slide Guitar Gharana: Senia-Maihar Gharana Format: To be confirmed Sessions: To be confirmed Enquire Ask about fees and availability ## Influence & Legacy Ali Akbar Khan took the line abroad. He first performed in the United States in 1955, at Yehudi Menuhin's request, and his college in California teaches the Seni Baba Allauddin tradition. The National Endowment for the Arts made him a National Heritage Fellow. Ayet Ali Khan carried the teaching east, founding music colleges in Comilla in 1948 and Brahmanbaria in 1954. ## Sources 1. Banglapedia, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, entries on Alauddin Khan, Ayet Ali Khan, Bahadur Hossain Khan and Ali Akbar Khan 2. Ravi Shankar, My Music, My Life (1968) 3. Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust, article and artist profile on Allauddin Khan 4. Tanvir A. Khan, The Daily Star, Dhaka, on Allauddin Khan (2012) 5. Gale, Contemporary Musicians and Encyclopedia of India, entries on Ali Akbar Khan 6. Ali Akbar College of Music, San Rafael, About, Our Lineage and Faculty pages ## Frequently Asked Questions What is the Senia-Maihar gharana of sarod? The Senia-Maihar gharana is the [sarod](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/sarod) line of the school Allauddin Khan founded at Maihar in the early 20th century. The school spans several instruments, and the Maihar gharana is another name for it. Senia refers to Tansen's line, which Allauddin Khan joined as a disciple of Wazir Khan of Rampur. Who founded the Senia-Maihar gharana of sarod? Allauddin Khan founded it at Maihar, where he served as court musician from 1918 by most accounts until his death in 1972. He learned the sarod from Ahmed Ali Khan and became a disciple of Wazir Khan of Rampur, a been player of Tansen's line. His brother Ayet Ali Khan also trained under Wazir Khan. Which musicians belong to the Senia-Maihar gharana of sarod today? Ali Akbar Khan's sons Alam Khan and Manik Khan teach sarod at his college. KalaSudha artists in the gharana include [Pandit Debasis Chakroborty](/en-fr/artist/debasis-chakroborty), [Dr Lovely Sharma](/en-fr/artist/dr-lovely-sharma), Satwinder Pal Singh and Debaditya Chakraborty. Pandit Debasis Chakroborty is the senior-most disciple of Brij Bhushan Kabra, and his playing reflects Kabra's style. He also learned from Barun Kumar Pal. Another of his teachers, Jotin Bhattacharya, studied with Allauddin Khan himself. How does the Senia-Maihar gharana of sarod differ from the Senia-Bangash gharana? The Senia-Maihar line began with Allauddin Khan, a teacher of many instruments who came to the sarod as a pupil and joined Tansen's line through Wazir Khan. The [Senia-Bangash gharana](/en-fr/gharana/senia-bangash-gharana) is the hereditary line of the Bangash family of Gwalior, which credits its own forefathers with shaping the sarod. What does 'Senia' mean in the name? Senia names the line of Tansen, the 16th-century court singer. Allauddin Khan joined it as a disciple of Wazir Khan of Rampur, a been player whom Ravi Shankar called a direct descendant of Tansen. The Ali Akbar College of Music calls its tradition the Seni Baba Allauddin gharana. Is the Senia-Maihar gharana the same school as the Maihar gharana? Yes, most sources treat them as one school. Allauddin Khan taught sarod, sitar, flute, violin and other instruments at Maihar. This page follows the sarod line through Ali Akbar Khan, and the [Maihar gharana](/en-fr/gharana/maihar-gharana) page follows the sitar line. When did the Senia-Maihar gharana begin? It began in the early 20th century, when Allauddin Khan settled at Maihar as court musician to Maharaja Brijnath Singh, in 1918 by most accounts. Darbar's artist profile gives 1907. Darbar's article also places a Maihar tradition in the 19th century, before him, without naming an earlier musician. Which sarod players belong to the Senia-Maihar gharana? Allauddin Khan and his son Ali Akbar Khan head the line. Other sarod players include his nephew Bahadur Khan, his disciple Sharan Rani, and Ali Akbar Khan's sons Aashish Khan, Alam Khan and Manik Khan. Ayet Ali Khan, the founder's brother, played sarod and surbahar. Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help! 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