The document summarizes the origins and history of the tabla instrument. It describes the different parts of the tabla and the basic strokes played. It outlines the five main gharanas (schools) of tabla playing that developed in places like Delhi, Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Banaras, and Punjab. Each gharana is traced back to its founder in the 18th-19th centuries and known for distinctive styles of playing called baaj. The document concludes with a brief biography of the famous modern tabla player Zakir Hussain, born in 1951 in Mumbai, who has received prestigious Indian honors for his contributions to music.