The hands that turned ‘rhythm into magic’
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ages across the globe.
He was a marvel not only for his incomparable talent with the tabla, but for his humility and down-to-earth nature. When he performed, he kept the audience engaged with words and beats alike. But one could not help but get completely hypnotised by his fingers dancing across his daya while his other hand steadily stroked the baya.
About his humble nature, noted flautist Ronu Majumdar said, “Today [yesterday] is a very sad day for the music world, that Zakir bhai is no more with us. Our Zakir bhai, the one whom everyone considered their own, how great that artist was, is beyond imagination.”
What set Ustadji apart the most is how he ensured this grand percussive instrument did not stay confined to the tag of an accompaniment. He raised it to become the star of the show. Many a time, those he would be accompanying on stage would be staring in awe as he took control of the entire atmosphere with just his hands.
Like popular playback Shreya Ghoshal wrote in her instagram handle yesterday, “He transformed tabla to a language of emotions, soul and beauty.”
He was also one of the few musicians that united generations of music lovers – my mother and I are testament to that.
While he played alongside the greats like Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Amjad Ali Khan, he also got the rare opportunity to play with the greats of this generation as well – Hariprasad’s nephew Rakesh Chaurasia, Amjad Ali’s sons Ayaan Ali and Amaan Ali, Shiv Kumar’s son Rahul Sharma and Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka Shankar.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who shared the stage with the maestro uncountable times, wrote, “Words fail me at this point. I am completely heartbroken and devastated to hear about Zakir Bhai. Ustad Zakir Hussain was a phenomenon. He was indeed one of the most loved musicians the world saw.”
Ustadji’s joyfulness and casual demeanour on stage was a sight to behold. I remember during his performance in Bengal Classical Music Festival in 2015, his game with the audience was like no other. As he imitated the sounds of a galloping horse or a running train, he made us guess what sounds he was making. A mix of awe and fun filled every single being in that stadium that night.
Born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai, Ustad Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi began his foray into the world of rhythm under the guidance and tutelage of his father, legendary Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi, at the age of seven. He was the eldest of three brothers and one sister. His brothers Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi followed his footsteps towards the tabla.
From childhood, Ustad Zakir was considered a prodigy and while he began performing at seven, he began touring by the age of 12. Both father and son were given the title of “Ustad”, meaning master. And the duo brought tabla to the fore as a major instrument in the world of music.
“The very first lesson that I received from my father Guru was that I should just try to be a good student and forget about trying to be a master,” Ustad Zakir said at a tribute concert “Zakir Hussain Meets Berklee” in the Berklee College of Music in 2019.
His personality and demeanour with his equals and even junior artistes are proof that he had internalised this lesson throughout his life.
Ustad Zakir is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola; his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi; his brothers, Taufiq and Fazal, and his sister, Khurshid Aulia.
Ustad Zakir’s international career began after moving to the US in the 1970s. He founded the band Shakti, with the likes of English guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian violinist L Shankar, TH “Vikku” Vinayakram and later even Shankar Mahadevan.
In a Facebook post McLaughlin wrote, “The King, in whose hands, rhythm became magic, has left us…. RIP my dearest Zakir, we will meet again.”
Ustadji’s bandmate and passionate admirer Shankar yesterday wrote, “Devastated, shattered... I have lost my mentor, my guru and my inspiration. A huge part of my music is because of him. And now the world of music is going to be without the greatest musician from our country. There was, is and will never be another Zakir Hussain.”
He also played alongside noted musicians such as George Harrison, Van Morrison and more.
It goes without saying that throughout his life, Ustad Zakir Hussain received many an accolade. In 1999, he became the youngest ever Padma Shri recipient. He won numerous Grammys – in 1992 for Mickey Hart’s “Planet Drum Project”, in 2009 for the “Global Drum Project” and this year he won three for “Pashto”, “As we Speak” and “Motion”. He also received the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. In between, there were many, many more.
Actor Kamal Haasan shared a personal memory, posting an image of himself playing tabla with Ustad. “Zakir Bhai! He left too soon. Yet we are grateful for the times he gave us and what he left behind in the form of his art. Goodbye and thank you.”
Throughout the day, more tributes poured in.
Ghazal singer Hariharan wrote, “The world has lost a legend and I have lost a brother. Zakir bhai wasn’t just a master of the tabla, he was the heartbeat of music itself. His hands could create worlds, his rhythms could tell stories, and his soul poured into every beat he played.”
Internationally famed sitar player Anoushka Shankar wrote, “Maybe another day I’ll have words for this grief. Right now, I’m just broken-hearted and thinking of his family with all the love in the world. He was like an uncle, he was an idol; I had the privilege of loving him up close and worshipping his musicianship at a distance….. He was utterly unique in the world of music but I don’t have the words to describe that.”
Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman, who had long admired Hussain’s work, expressed his regret over their missed collaboration: “Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as we did decades ago, though we had planned an album together. You shall be truly missed.”
Young violinist Nandini Shankar, daughter of violin maestro Dr Sangeeta Shankar, shared, “Zakir uncle, no words can truly capture the depth and beauty you brought into this world. The heart refuses to accept a world without you but you live on through your music.”
Despite confusion over his death since Sunday, the hearts of millions had already been breaking since the news of him being in critical condition came to the fore.
But as most condolence messages said, Ustad Zakir Hussain may have left the material world, but his beats will reverberate through the hearts of every music lover in the world for generations to come.
For now, our Ustad has played his final tehai and can rest in peace and rhythm.