World renowned tabla player and Padma Vibhushan maestro Zakir Hussain has passed away. He was undergoing treatment in San Francisco, USA. There he breathed his last.
He was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai. Ustad Zakir Hussain was awarded Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
Zakir Hussain also received three Grammy Awards. His father's name was Ustad Allah Rakha Qureshi and his mother's name was Biwi Begum. Zakir's father Allah Rakha was also a tabla player. Zakir Hussain received his early education from St. Michael's School in Mahim, Mumbai. Apart from this, he also graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Zakir Hussain gave his first concert in America when he was just 11 years old. In 1973 he launched his first album 'Living in the Material World'.
Ustad Zakir Hussain would look at a flat space and start playing tunes with his fingers Zakir Hussain was fond of playing tunes since childhood. He would find any flat place and start playing tunes with his fingers. Pans, pots and plates would turn their hands on what they could find.
Zakir Hussain kept the tabla in his lap In the early days, Ustad Zakir Hussain used to travel by train. Due to lack of money, he used to board the general coach. If he could not find a seat, he would sleep with newspapers spread on the floor. During this period he used to sleep with the tabla on his lap so that no one would step on it.
At the age of 12 he received 5 rupees, which was the highest value Zakir Hussain went to a concert with his father when he was 12 years old. Music giants like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Bismillah Khan, Pandit Shanta Prasad and Pandit Kishan Maharaj attended that concert.
Zakir Hussain went on stage with his father. After the performance, Zakir was given Rs.5. Mentioning this in an interview, he said- I have earned a lot of money in my life, but that 5 rupees was the most valuable.
Ustad Zakir Hussain used to be a part of concerts even in the last days of his life. His programs were held in the country and abroad.
America also respected Zakir Hussain Zakir Hussain was also respected by America, the most powerful country in the world. In 2016, former US President Barack Obama invited him to the White House to participate in the All Star Global Concert. Zakir Hussain was the first Indian musician to receive this invitation.
Worked in a Hollywood film with Shashi Kapoor Zakir Hussain has also acted in some films. He made his debut in the British film Heat and Dust in 1983. Shashi Kapoor also acted in this film.
Zakir Hussain also acted in the 1998 film Saaz. She was opposite Shabana Azmi in this film. Zakir Hussain played the role of Shabana's lover in this film.
Zakir Hussain was also offered the role of Salim's younger brother in Mughal-e-Azam (1960), but his father did not allow him at the time. He wanted his son to focus only on music.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
