Zakir Hussain, legendary tabla virtuoso, dies at 73, tributes pour in

Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain has passed away at the age of 73 in San Francisco from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an official statement from his family confirmed on Monday.

The legendary Tabla virtuoso leaves behind a legacy that is cherished and respected by countless music lovers across the world, with an influence that will be reflect in generations to come. Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters Anisa Qureshi and her family, Isabella Qureshi and her family, his brothers Taufiq and Fazal Qureshi, and his sister Khurshid Aulia.

Earlier on Sunday, Hussain’s friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia had said that the Tabla legend was admitted to the San Francisco hospital’s ICU with heart-related problems. However, early reports surfaced on Sunday saying that the 73-year-old musician had passed away. But these claims were dismissed by his publicist, who confirmed to PTI that he was being treated at the hospital and “has not passed”.

At the time his family sought prayers and blessings from all for Hussain’s speedy recovery. Other details about his condition were not revealed earlier.

In the official statement on Hussain’s passing on Monday, his family said, “His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time.”

“The family requests privacy at this time,” it added.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences over Hussain’s passing and described him as a “cultural ambassador who bridged borders and generations with his mesmerizing rhythms”.

“The Padma Vibhushan tabla maestro and percussionist, gloriously took forward the legacy of his father with exceptional performances and collaborations. His numerous national and international honours are a testament to this,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the tabla maestro a “beacon of India’s rich musical heritage and a true custodian of classical traditions”.

“Ustad Zakir Hussain was instrumental in popularising Indian music across the globe, serving as a beacon of India’s rich musical heritage. A true custodian of classical traditions, his contributions to the arts remain unparalleled. His passing is a monumental loss to culture and humanity. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,” Vijayan said.

Legendary Tabla virtuoso: Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai’s Mahim to legendary tabla master Ustad Allarakha, who was Ravi Shankar’s longtime accompanist. Hussain had an inclination towards playing tabla at a very young age.

He also learned to play the mridang (classical percussion instrument) from his father at the age of 3 and began performing at concerts by the age of 12.

Earlier, Hussain had said that when he was a baby, his father used to recite tabla rhythms for prayers into his ears.

“The tradition was that the father is supposed to recite a prayer in the baby’s ear, welcoming the baby and putting some good words. So he takes me in his arms, puts his lips to my ear and recites the tabla rhythms into my ears. My mother was livid. She said, what are you doing? You’re supposed to say, you know, prayers, not rhythms. And he said, but these are my prayers. This is how I pray. He said, I am the worshipper of Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesh. This was a devout Muslim talking. He said this is the knowledge he got from his teachers and wanted to pass it on to his son,” Hussain was quoted by PTI.