Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro who introduced Indian classical music to global audiences, passed away on Monday at the age of 73. The musician, revered for his unparalleled artistry and his role as a cultural ambassador, died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family confirmed in a statement.
“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 said.
Tributes poured in from all quarters after news of his passing spread. Everyone from Bollywood stars to music’s greats, politicians and more took to social media to honour his legacy. One among them was former talk show host Simi Garewal. In her post, she wrote, “I was sad to learn of the passing away of #ustadzakirhussain. He was a music legend indeed with a buoyant spirit for life. I had a rare rendezvous with him and his wife Antonia. It was wonderful…”
She also shared a video from her throwback interview with the legend, where he revealed a lesser-known side of his struggle to make it to the top. Hussain, who was widely regarded as the face of the tabla, revealed that his journey to becoming a musical icon wasn’t without hurdles—even at home. In a now-viral throwback interview with Garewal, Hussain revealed a surprising detail about his childhood – his mother had not wanted him to pursue music.
In the interview, Hussain said, “When we were very young, music was still not considered to be something that you could make a decent living or a respectable living. My mother had seen me go to concerts and come back, where as payment I had food given to me packed. She had seen stuff like that and wanted me to have a better life and a secure future. She tried her damnest to make sure I studied and that I went to school and focused on being able to have something to fall back on.”
Despite his mother’s concerns, Hussain’s admiration for his father, the legendary tabla maestro Alla Rakha, solidified his desire to pursue music. Recalling his father’s quiet encouragement, he said, “My father encouraged me without actually encouraging me. I just wanted to be him. He was God. I just wanted to emulate him in any way possible.”
Hussain’s passion for the tabla was unstoppable, leading to moments of defiance during his youth. The maestro shared a childhood anecdote where, frustrated with his mother’s restrictions, he attempted to run away with a household worker, “At 6, I nearly ran away with a lady who worked in my house. I must’ve been very disgruntled with my mother trying to stop me from playing music. So I told Pujaran, ‘Let’s run away.’ She used to sing a bit, so I told her, ‘You sing and I’ll play, and we’ll make a living. Let’s just run away from home.’”
This urge to play tabla persisted into adulthood. Hussain revealed, “I would run away from home for a few days to go and play in some other city. Since I was the only one who spoke English, there was great advantage. Letters would come for my father to come and perform, and I would reply saying, ‘He’s not available, he’s in New York or Paris, but his son is good enough and he’d be glad to come and play.’”
Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music are nothing short of extraordinary. In 2024, he made history as the first Indian musician to win three Grammy Awards in a single year. The maestro was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2023, among numerous other accolades that marked his illustrious career.
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