Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, mentioned in news as a renowned maestro from Varanasi, was associated with which of the following performing arts?

Introduction / Context:
Indian performing arts include classical dance forms as well as a rich tradition of instrumental music. Some family names are associated with more than one art form, which can cause confusion in exams. This question refers to Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, a maestro from Varanasi whose passing was reported in the news, and asks you to identify the art he was associated with. Recognising his link with a particular instrument is important for current affairs and cultural general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The personality named is Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, described as a maestro from Varanasi.
• The options list flute, tabla, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, and sarod.
• There have been noted artists called Lachhu Maharaj in both dance and music traditions.
• This question specifically alludes to the tabla maestro who was in the news for his recent demise.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, there was a Kathak choreographer named Lachhu Maharaj associated with dance, but the news item referred to in many GK compilations is about Pandit Lacchu or Lachhu Maharaj of Varanasi, a distinguished tabla player. He belonged to a famous family of percussionists from the Banaras gharana. Since the question mentions him as Pandit and notes his recent passing, it aligns with the tabla maestro rather than the earlier Kathak choreographer. Therefore, tabla is the correct performing art to choose here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase Pandit Lachhu Maharaj from Varanasi and recall recent news about his demise. Step 2: Remember that this news item described him as a celebrated tabla player belonging to the Banaras tradition. Step 3: Check the list of options and identify tabla as the percussion instrument among them. Step 4: Note that Kathak and Bharatnatyam are classical dance forms, and flute and sarod are melodic instruments, not the correct match in this news context. Step 5: Select tabla as the art form with which Pandit Lachhu Maharaj was associated.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that the obituary reports and current affairs summaries referred to him as a tabla maestro, often mentioning that he was related to other famous tabla players from Banaras and had accompanied many vocalists. While the name Lachhu Maharaj is also known in connection with Kathak choreography, those references usually omit the prefix Pandit and relate to an earlier period. Current affairs handbooks that compile important deaths of cultural figures clearly list the tabla maestro, confirming that tabla is the expected answer in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Flute is incorrect because the well known Indian flute maestro is Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, not Lachhu Maharaj. Kathak might seem tempting due to the existence of a famous Kathak choreographer by a similar name, but the question framing around the recent news and the use of Pandit point toward the tabla artist instead. Bharatnatyam is a South Indian classical dance form and is not linked with this name. Sarod is another string instrument associated with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and others, not with Lachhu Maharaj.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is confusion between the Kathak choreographer Lachhu Maharaj and the tabla maestro Lachhu Maharaj. Students who only remember the dance association may incorrectly choose Kathak. Another mistake is to ignore the time clue implied by the word recently in the original question, which indicates a contemporary news topic rather than a long past artist. A careful reading of the context and an awareness that GK questions often draw on recent obituaries can help you pick tabla confidently.

Final Answer:
Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, the maestro from Varanasi referenced in news, was associated with the Tabla.