Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died in a San Francisco Hospital on Mondy, his family announced, he was 73, Hussain’s death resulted from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to his family. He was hospitalized for two weeks and later moved to intensive care as his health worsened.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted, ‘’The passing away of Ustad Zakir Hussain Sahab leaves our world of culture poorer. Making his fingers dance on the dayan and bayan, he took Indian Tabla to the global stage and will always be synonymous with its intricate rhythms’’. Zakir Hussain’s death marks the end of an era in the world of music. He was born on March 9,1951, to a family of musical excellence, Zakir Hussain was the eldest son of legendary Tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha and a child prodigy, by all accounts. The tabla virtuoso began his professional career at the age of 12, accompanying Indian classical musicians. Years of discipline and training were peppered by childish ‘’escape attempts’’ that always ended at home and a good sounding off from his mother as Zakir Hussain realized that the future he wanted started at home.
By 18, he was already performing on international stages. As he won acclaim for his accompaniment, his dazzling solo performances, and pioneering collaborative work to develop a dialogue between North and South Indian musicians, the status of the table soared, both in India and across the world. The Tabla maestro has received several honorary doctorates. In 2019, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s highest honour for artist.