The world stands still, a beat skipped, as we mourn the passing of Ustad Zakir Hussain, a maestro who gave tabla its soul and rhythm its heartbeat. At the age of 73, he leaves behind an unmatched legacy of artistry and an immeasurable void in the world of music.

Ustad Zakir Hussain was more than a tabla virtuoso; he was a musical visionary, a celebrated composer, percussionist, and cultural ambassador who carried the legacy of his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, to awe-inspiring heights. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tabla players in history, he bridged the worlds of classical Indian music and global contemporary sound, transcending cultural and generational divides.

The Maestro & His Craft

Zakir Hussain was more than just a musician; he was a force of nature, a virtuoso whose fingers danced on the tabla with an unparalleled blend of technical mastery and soulful expression. His genius lay not only in his unparalleled technical mastery but in the soulful storytelling that accompanied his every performance. His hands danced on the tabla with divine precision, creating a tapestry of rhythm that could convey laughter, tears, whispers, and roars. To witness him perform was to experience a spiritual dialogue between tradition and innovation, silence and sound, the human and the divine.

I vividly recall attending one of his mesmerizing performances at Kala Mandir in Kolkata. Sitting in the audience, I was spellbound, as were hundreds of others, by the magic he conjured. As his fingers moved effortlessly across the tabla, the instrument seemed to transform into a storyteller, narrating tales of timeless wonder. The concert was not just music—it was prayer, meditation, and celebration, all woven together in a moment of transcendence.

A Global Legacy

Rooted in Indian classical music, Zakir Hussain’s artistry embraced the global stage. Collaborating with icons like Pandit Ravi Shankar, John McLaughlin, and Yo-Yo Ma, he introduced the tabla to new audiences and infused Indian rhythm into the global soundscape. His projects, like Shakti, were groundbreaking in their fusion of Indian and Western music, proving that art has no borders, only bridges.

Padma Vibhushan Zakir Hussain, a four-time Grammy winner, achieved his first historic win in 1992 for Planet Drum and secured three more awards in 2024 for As We Speak, This Moment, and Pashto. He also received the Kyoto Prize, Japan’s prestigious award for global achievement in music in 2022, the United States’ highest award for traditional arts, presented by First Lady Hillary Clinton in 1999, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 for excellence in performing arts, and Kalidas Samman for exceptional contributions to the arts in 2006.

Yet, his achievements were matched by his humility. He inspired generations not only with his performances but with his teachings, reminding us that art is a sacred pursuit, a leap of faith into creative freedom.

The Spirit of Creative Freedom

Zakir Hussain was an ardent advocate for the unity and positivity that art can inspire. At the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2018, in conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir and Sanjoy K Roy, he reminisced about his upbringing, steeped in diverse traditions of faith and music. He said, reflecting on the harmonious coexistence of traditions that shaped his worldview:

From 3 am to 6 am, I practised slokas with my father, then went to the madrassa to read the Quran. After that, I crossed the street to St. Michael’s Church to listen to hymns and marched to my classes humming. Never has a priest or a mullah ever tried to teach me that what they are saying is the only truth. Those were different times.

In the same conversation, he emphasized the essence of artistic expression:

If you are mad enough to be in the art world, you have to take a leap of faith and believe in the spirit it provides. Fences of art have been broken down, and it doesn’t matter what the world is doing—unity is the positivity of the art world.

An Eternal Rhythm

As we mourn the passing of this extraordinary maestro, we celebrate the immortality of his art. Zakir Hussain’s rhythms will continue to echo through time, a reminder of his genius and the spirit he embodied. His tabla will forever speak to us, its beats resonating in our hearts and its stories inspiring future generations.

Thank you, Maestro, for the magic, the wisdom, and the unity you brought to the world through your art. Rest in eternal rhythm.