New Delhi: One of the greatest tabla artistes of his generation, Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away at San Francisco in the US. He was 73.
Hussain had been undergoing treatment for the past two weeks at a hospital. His family has said that he suffered complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Hussain is the son of another tabla legend, Ustad Alla Rakha.
Ustad ZAKIR HUSSAIN in a rare picture with father Ustad Alla Rakha & family, at the Taj Mahal in Agra #ZakirHussain pic.twitter.com/IoZOdrB2dA
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) December 15, 2024
There had been initial confusion over Hussain’s death after a government account on X, run by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, posted about it. A news agency noted that the information had not been confirmed by his family or the hospital. Later, news of his death was confirmed, leading to an outpouring of condolences on social media.
Many noted that Hussain’s artistry reflected a syncretic India, unbesmirched by religious divide.
Times when Indians were Indians first and every thing later.
Ustaad Zakir Hussain playing Lord Shiva’s Damaru and explaining about the divinity.#ZakirHussain pic.twitter.com/3TpoHtf8dO
Advertisement— SS Sagar (@SSsagarHyd) December 15, 2024
Alvida, Ustad Zakir Hussain Saab!#ZakirHussain #ustadzakirhussain pic.twitter.com/rgBZv4iwmm
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) December 16, 2024
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Zakir Bhai ! He left too soon. Yet we are grateful for the times he gave us and what he left behind in the form of his art.
Goodbye and Thank you.#ZakirHussain pic.twitter.com/ln1cmID5LV— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) December 16, 2024
“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” the statement released by his family says.
A young Zakir Hussain fills in as the great Ali Akbar Khan replaces a broken string on his Sarod and tunes it. pic.twitter.com/jbwG0NcTaW
— Aunindyo Chakravarty (@Aunindyo2023) December 15, 2024
this tabla x boxing jugalbandi in Monkey man was just pure genius.
Even at 73 years of age he was hitting it out of the park, he lived his artform till his last breath. Rest in peace legend #zakirhussain pic.twitter.com/82H2ixXpnw
— ح (@hmmbly) December 15, 2024
Hussain is a four-time Grammy winner, and the recipient of the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002) and the Padma Vibhushan (2023).
Hussain’s list of collaborators are many, including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, John McLaughlin, L. Shankar, T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison.
Words fail me at this point. I am completely heartbroken and devastated to hear about Zakir Bhai. Ustad Zakir Hussain was a phenomenon. He was indeed one of the most loved musicians the world saw. pic.twitter.com/QOJG7GrzvV
— Amjad Ali Khan (@AAKSarod) December 16, 2024
Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola and daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
