The Indian music fraternity mourns the loss of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, who passed away at the age of 73 in San Francisco. A celebrated icon, he brought unparalleled recognition to Indian classical music on the global stage with 8 Grammy nominations and 4 wins including three earlier this year.
Confirming the news of his sad passing his sister Khurshid Aulia told PTI, “He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off. This was 4 pm San Francisco time.”
Zakir Hussain, born on March 9, 1951 to tabla virtuoso Ustad Alla Rakha, redefined the role of the tabla in music. He was a pioneer, blending Indian classical music with global genres, earning acclaim and inspiring generations. Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after a two-week hospitalization.
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Soon after this deep felt news spread in, the tributes poured in from every corner of the music and film industry. AR Rahman, mourning the loss, wrote, “Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable. I regret not collaborating with him more.”
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) December 16, 2024
Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim 🌟🌍. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as we did decades ago, though we had planned…
Abhijeet Bhattacharya shared a heartfelt memory, “The Great Maestro #zakirhussain… Gone Too Soon… I just met him at breakfast recently in Birmingham. Rest In Peace, Ustad ji.”
Vishal Dadlani expressed his grief on Instagram with a poignant post, “There will never be another #UstadZakirHussain. My deepest condolences to his family and to music itself. I request everyone to be mindful of the emotional state of the family.”
Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej called Hussain an irreplaceable force, “Zakirji was known for his humility, approachable nature, and for launching the careers of many musicians who are now forces to reckon with themselves.”
Ustad Zakir Hussain’s contributions were unmatched. Among his numerous accolades were India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990), the Fellowship (2018), the United States National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship (1999) and also Mr. Hussain’s final Grammy wins earlier this year in February 2024 talks about his undying relevance. Even in his last years, he continued to inspire, perform and contribute to Indian music.
Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan, actors like Nithya Menen, Ranveer Singh and Kareena Kapoor Khan and filmmakers Hansal Mehta and Nandita Das joined countless others in paying their respects. The world has not only lost a great musician but also a cultural ambassador whose tabla spoke to millions.
Ustad Zakir Hussain passes away but his music and the legacy he leaves behind will remain eternal. His tabla rhythms will continue to resonate in hearts worldwide, ensuring his memory endures.
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