Zakir Hussain — The Last Beat Of A Timeless Maestro

With Zakir Hussain’s passing, an era has drawn its final curtain.

Source : PTI

Zakir Hussain’s departure does not mark an irreparable loss, for his greatest creations had long been gifted to the world, etched in the timeless grooves of rhythm and melody. In his later years, his fingers caressed the tabla not to create anew, but to nurture and preserve the brilliance of his legacy — a legacy that will endure through the ages.

Yet, what words can capture the void left by his presence? What can replace the magnetic aura he carried, the luminous charm of a maestro who wove magic with a thousand rhythms and lit up stages with his infectious laughter and radiant spirit? That, truly, is the loss we mourn. The tabla, though eternal, has lost its soul’s laughter. With Hussain’s passing, an era has drawn its final curtain. His art remains immortal, but the man, the living embodiment of that art, has moved beyond our reach, leaving us with echoes of genius and a quiet, aching absence.

Zakir Hussain was a legend, a virtuoso unparalleled in the history of Indian classical music. Growing under the towering shadow of his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, himself a maestro of the tabla, Zakir not only inherited a legacy but surpassed it, carving his own place in the pantheon of greats. Zakir Hussain didn’t merely play the tabla; he became one with it. He was a musician whose identity was inseparable from his instrument, and he elevated the tabla to a level never seen before, making it the centrepiece of global admiration and reverence.

Zakir Hussain began his journey by sharing the stage with his father, but, over time, his brilliance created an identity distinctly his own. In what seemed almost miraculous, he emerged as a second banyan tree growing alongside the towering presence of his father. The same legendary vocalists and instrumentalists who once sought Ustad Alla Rakha’s accompaniment began to turn to Zakir Hussain with the same reverence. 

His Tabla Was His Prayer

What made Zakir Hussain truly exceptional was his ability to elevate the tabla beyond its traditional role as an accompanying instrument. Under his hands, the tabla claimed centrestage, its rhythmic vocabulary transforming into a language of its own. He gave the instrument dignity, glamour, and an almost cult-like following. 

It was a remarkable transformation, a son not only carrying forward a tradition but reimagining it in his own inimitable way. 

Zakir Hussain was more than just a virtuoso; he was a custodian of Indian cultural heritage. He was a devout Muslim, but often connected his art to the divine, offering it as a tribute to Lord Shiva or Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts. There was no superficial secular posturing in his art — it was deeply rooted in the sacred traditions of Indian music. His tabla was his prayer, his offering to a higher realm.

Born on March 9, 1951, in Mahim, Mumbai, Zakir Hussain grew up in a household steeped in rhythm and melody. He attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim and graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. His father, Ustad Alla Rakha, a longtime accompanist of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, recognised Hussain’s talent early. Zakir Hussain began learning the tabla and mridang at the age of 3, and by 12, he had made his first public performance. This early immersion in music set the foundation for a career that would redefine the global perception of the tabla.

Zakir Hussain’s illustrious career was adorned with numerous accolades, reflecting his unparalleled contributions to music and culture. He was honoured with India’s top civilian awards, including the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023). Hussain was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadasyata, in 2018. In 1999, he was awarded the United States National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, the highest award given to traditional artists and musicians. Hussain has received seven Grammy Award nominations, with four wins. He received three Grammys in February 2024.

One of Zakir Hussain’s fondest memories from his childhood was a unique blessing his father gave him as a newborn. In an interview, he said, “Traditionally, when a baby is born, the father whispers prayers into the baby’s ear. My father, instead, recited tabla rhythms. He said, ‘These are my prayers. This is the knowledge I worship, and I want to pass it on to my son.’”

Many young tabla players adopted his long-haired style and attempted to mimic his on-stage charisma, but there was and will only ever be one Zakir Hussain. He was the original, and he was irreplaceable.

Glimpse Into The Divine

It was a moment that set the tone for a life dedicated to the worship of rhythm, and this deep spiritual connection infused his music with unparalleled depth and soul.

Over the decades, Zakir Hussain became the face of Indian classical music on the global stage. From performing with Ravi Shankar to creating magic with John McLaughlin and the world-renowned Shakti, from collaborating with Western symphonies to gracing global platforms like Carnegie Hall and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, Zakir Hussain redefined the boundaries of what Indian percussion could achieve. 

Watching Zakir Hussain perform was a transcendental experience. It was as if the musician and the audience became one, sharing a space of blissful resonance. His performances embodied the rare phenomenon where technique and spirituality merged, offering something far beyond mere entertainment — a glimpse into the divine.

With Zakir Hussain’s passing, the music world mourns not just the artiste, but the man who embodied the spirit of Indian classical music with grace, charm, and unparalleled genius. The curtain has fallen, and the stage is silent, but the echoes of his art will reverberate forever, inspiring generations to come.

Rest in rhythm, Zakir Sahab! You were truly one of a kind!

The writer is a Bengaluru-based management professional, curator, and literary critic.

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