Zakir Hussain, Tabla Ninja, a five-time Grammy Award winner and three-time Padma awardee, passed away due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at a hospital in San Francisco, USA, on Monday, December 15, 2024, at the age of 73.
Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi was born on March 9, 1951, in Bombay, India, to the renowned tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha Khan and Bavi Begum. Tabla Ninja," Zakir Hussain was not only a masterful tabla player but also a charismatic personality. Read through the musical journey of Zakir Hussain in this article.
" data-image-caption="
Zakir Hussain
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-2.jpg?fit=259%2C194&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-3982" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-2.jpg" alt="Zakir Hussain" width="259" height="194" /> Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain Groomed by Father
Zakir Hussain recalls how his father, Alla Rakha, groomed him. Despite being a conservative Muslim, his father would chant rhythms into Zakir's ear instead of prayers. For Alla Rakha, rhythms were a form of devotion. He also revered the Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati, and the Hindu God of Rhythm, Ganesha.
Zakir began playing the tabla as soon as he was old enough to reach the drums. His training with his father was intensive: "You grow up in the atmosphere of music 24 hours a day," he said, "and you don't have to do anything else." By the age of seven, Hussain was already performing at concerts and began touring internationally at 12.
" data-image-caption="
Zakir Hussain with his Father
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-1.jpg?fit=268%2C188&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-3983" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-1.jpg" alt="Zakir Hussain with his Father" width="268" height="188" /> Zakir Hussain with his Father
The origin of the tabla traces back to ancient Indian civilization, dating back to the 2nd century BC. The tabla is a set of two hand-played drums and is the primary percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music. Its playing technique is intricate and requires skilful use of fingers and palms in diverse patterns to produce a rich array of sounds and rhythms. These rhythms are often expressed through mnemonic syllables known as "bols."
" data-image-caption="
Stone_carvings_at_Bhaje_caves showing Drums Being Played, 12th Century BC, India
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Stone_carvings_at_Bhaje_caves.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1" class="wp-image-3979 size-medium" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Stone_carvings_at_Bhaje_caves-300x225.jpg" alt="Stone_carvings_at_Bhaje_caves showing Drums Being Played, 2nd Century BC, India" width="300" height="225" /> Stone_carvings_at_Bhaje_caves showing Drums Being Played, 2nd Century BC, India
(Source: Bhaja Caves. (2024, November 16). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaja_Caves)
Padma and Grammy Awards
Ustad Zakir Hussain received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. The tabla maestro made history at the 2024 Grammy Awards by becoming the first Indian artist to win three Grammy Awards in a single night. He won in the following categories: Best Global Music Album for This Moment, Best Global Music Performance for his contribution to Pashto, and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for As We Speak. These wins mark his fifth Grammy overall, adding to his previous victories in 1992 and 2009.
" data-image-caption="
Zakir Hussain with Grammy Awards
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Grammy-award-Zakir-Hussain.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-3980" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Grammy-award-Zakir-Hussain.jpg" alt="Zakir Hussain with Grammy Awards" width="300" height="168" /> Zakir Hussain with Grammy Award
Expert Insights of Zakir Hussain: The Role of a Tabla Player
With his passing, the world has lost an extraordinary musician. Reflecting on the role of a tabla player, Zakir Hussain once said:
"A tabla player is like a psychiatrist onstage. He has no prior knowledge of what the main instrumentalist will do. He must sit, observe, and adapt as the instrumentalist initiates the composition. Within the first five to eight minutes, the tabla player must gauge the musician's mood, temperament, and intent, understanding what they wish to express through their music. It's like being a catcher in a baseball game—except the catcher doesn't know what the pitcher will throw. It's all about adapting in the moment."
" data-image-caption="
Zakir Hussain with Sachin Tendulkar
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-with-Sachin-Tendulkar.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-3981" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Zakir-Hussain-with-Sachin-Tendulkar.jpg" alt="Zakir Hussain with Sachin Tendulkar" width="300" height="168" /> Zakir Hussain with Sachin Tendulkar
Ustad Zakir Hussain may be dead but his Charisma will Live Forever!