Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, battling heart-related issues, died at a US hospital at this time. He was 73.
His supervisor, Nirmala Bachani, mentioned he was admitted to a hospital in San Francisco.
“Zakir Hussain, the peerless North Indian tabla participant, favors an impish pressure of virtuosity. He’s a fearsome technician but in addition a whimsical inventor, dedicated to exuberant play. So he hardly ever appears overbearing, even when the blur of his fingers rivals the beat of a hummingbird’s wings,” wrote New York Times in regards to the artist when he carried out at Carnegie Hall in 2009.
The Bombay-born eldest son of legendary tabla participant Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain adopted within the footsteps of his father, turning into a marquee identify in India and the world over.
Once narrating the story of his first reserving, the percussionist mentioned a letter got here to their home providing a live performance date to his father. Zakir wrote again saying that his father wouldn’t be capable to settle for the engagement however that his son was out there. However, he did not point out within the letter that he was solely 13. It labored, and his musical profession was below means.
As information unfold, tributes poured in from leaders, industrialists, musicians from throughout.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi mentioned the desk participant will “stay alive in our recollections”.
“The information of the dying of the nice tabla participant Ustad Zakir Hussain ji is extraordinarily unhappy. His dying is a superb loss for the music world. My condolences are along with his household and followers on this hour of grief. Ustad Zakir Hussain ji has left behind such a legacy of his artwork, which can at all times stay alive in our recollections,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X in Hindi.
Minister Nitin Gadkari described the artist’s dying as an “irreparable loss to the nation’s artwork and music sector”.
“The information of the dying of famend tabla participant Padma Vibhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain is extraordinarily unhappy. My heartfelt tribute to him. His passing away is an irreparable loss to the nation’s artwork and music sector. His contribution within the area of artwork is unprecedented. His dedication in direction of his artwork and his contribution will at all times be remembered. May God grant peace to the departed soul and provides power to the household and followers. Om Shanti!” Mr Gadkari posted on X.
“Zakir Hussain Ji’s tabla spoke a common language, transcending borders, cultures and generations,” mentioned Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani mentioned the “world has misplaced a rhythm it will possibly by no means exchange”.
“The world has misplaced a rhythm it will possibly by no means exchange. Ustad Zakir Hussain, our maestro whose tabla beats will ceaselessly echo within the soul of India, leaves behind his inimitable type of timeless artwork. His legacy is an everlasting taal, resonating via generations to come back,” Mr Adani posted on X.
Industrialist Anand Mahindra wrote: “The rhythm of India paused at this time”. He posted a video of a jugalbandi between the tabla participant and the late singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
The rhythm of India paused at this time…
In tribute.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽#ZakirHussain
pic.twitter.com/eknPqw4uKM— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 15, 2024
Harsh Goenka, Chairman – RPG Enterprises, mentioned the tabla participant’s “beats will echo eternally”.
“The world falls silent because the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who introduced the soul of India to world phases, has left us. I used to be privileged to know him due to his reference to HMV and listen to him carry out at our dwelling. His beats will echo eternally,” Mr Goenka posted on X with a clip of the artist in motion.
The world falls silent because the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who introduced the soul of India to world phases, has left us. I used to be privileged to know him due to his reference to HMV and listen to him carry out at our dwelling. His beats will echo… pic.twitter.com/TJ5aaLbsqZ
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 15, 2024
A recipient of many awards, he obtained 4 Grammy Awards in his profession, together with three on the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this yr.
In a profession spanning six many years, the musician labored with a number of famend worldwide and Indian artistes, but it surely was his 1973 musical venture with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that introduced collectively Indian classical and parts of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown.
The percussionist, one among India’s most celebrated classical muscians, obtained the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.