Zakir Hussain, Tabla maestro, was admitted to the hospital in the United States after being diagnosed with serious heart issues on December 15 (Sunday). He was earlier shifted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital, his friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia confirmed.
Zakir’s nephew Ameer Aulia has claimed that he is still alive.
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha also posted on X and said, “The news of his passing is not true”.
Earlier, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore posted on X about the sudden demise of Hussain and expressed his condolences.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also expressed condolences on the death of tabla maestro Hussain.
RPG enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka posted on X and said, “The world falls silent as the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to global stages, has left us. I was privileged to know him because of his connection with HMV and hear him perform at our home. His beats will echo eternally.”
Zakir Hussain’s tabla spoke universal language: Scindia
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted, “The बोल of Zakir Hussain Ji’s tabla spoke a universal language, transcending borders, cultures and generations. This clip defines how we will remember him, and celebrate his legacy. The sound & vibrations of his rhythm will echo in our hearts forever. सदैव गूंजेगा, वाह ताज! My deepest condolences to his family, fans and loved ones. Om Shanti.”
Padma awardee Zakir Hussain
The percussionist, one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
The 73-year-old US-based musician, who has taken the tabla to the global stage, had been having blood pressure issues, Hussain’s manager Nirmala Bachani added earlier.
“He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a heart-related problem for the last two weeks,” Bachani said.
“He is unwell and admitted in the ICU right now. We all are worried about the situation,” Chaurasia told media.
The eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha, Hussain has followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a marquee name in India and across the world. In his career spanning six decades, the musician has worked with several renowned international and Indian artistes, but it was his 1973 musical project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that brought together Indian classical and elements of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown.
As concern mounted over Hussain’s health, senior broadcast journalist Pervaiz Alam also took to X to share the news, citing the musician’s brother-in-law Ayub Aulia.
“Ustad Zakir Hussain, Tabla player, percussionist, composer, former actor and the son of legendary Tabla player, Ustad Allah Rakha is not well. He’s being treated for serious ailments in a San Francisco hospital, USA, informed his brother-in-law, Ayub Aulia in a phone call with me. Aulia sahab, based in London, has requested Zakir’s followers to pray for his speedy recovery,” he wrote in a post.
