
The nation mourns the loss of Ustad Zakir Hussain, a revolutionary tabla virtuoso who redefined percussion and bridged musical cultures across the globe. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Hussain was the son of tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, a lineage that would profoundly shape the course of Indian classical music.
A musical journey unfolds
From his earliest years, Hussain immersed himself in the tabla. Under the rigorous tutelage of his father, he began learning the intricate art of percussion at an astonishingly young age. By the time he was a teenager, Hussain was already recognised as a prodigy, displaying a musical maturity far exceeding his years.
The 1960s marked the beginning of his professional journey. Young Hussain started performing alongside his father, quickly establishing himself as a formidable tabla player. His breakthrough came in the early 1970s when he began collaborating with international musicians, which would dramatically expand the global understanding of Indian classical percussion.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Hussain became a pioneering force in world music. He formed groundbreaking collaborations with musicians like jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, creating the revolutionary Shakti ensemble that blended Indian classical music with jazz and world music influences. Beyond Shakti, he worked with an incredible array of musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma in the Silk Road Ensemble, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, and countless classical and jazz musicians. These partnerships broke down musical barriers and introduced audiences worldwide to the art of tabla.
Honours and achievements
His extraordinary contributions did not go unrecognised. The percussionist received the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was the recipient of four Grammy awards in his career. In 1999, he received the United States National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, a testament to his global impact.