Ustad Zakir Hussain: A cultural ambassador who influenced generations of musicians

Celebrated tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain died of complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 73 in San Francisco on Sunday, his family said.

Hussain had been hospitalized for the past two weeks.

“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” his family said in a statement.

On Sunday evening, initial reports of Hussain’s passing led to confusion following which his sister, Khursheed, clarified to the Press Trust of India that though Hussain was “very, very critical,” he was “still breathing” at the time.

The ministry of information and broadcasting also prematurely announced his death on X (formerly Twitter) before deleting it.

The family later confirmed of the tabla maestro’s passing.

Tributes pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the news calling Hussain “an icon of cultural unity”.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji. He will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music. He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm. Through this, he seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions with global music, thus becoming an icon of cultural unity,” Modi said on X. “His iconic performances and soulful compositions will contribute to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the global music community.”

Legendary music composer A.R. Rahman credited Hussain for elevating the tabla to “global acclaim”.

“Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable for all of us,” Rahman wrote on X. “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. May his family and his countless students worldwide find the strength to bear this immense loss.”

The US Embassy in India shared a tribute on X, featuring a video created to honor 75 years of US-India relations.

“Forever in our hearts, Wah Ustaad Wah! We pay our tributes to Ustad Zakir Hussain, a true maestro who touched millions of hearts worldwide with this special video we created with him to celebrate 75 years of the US-India relationship,” the embassy wrote.

From child prodigy to cultural envoy

With a career spanning six decades, Hussain was one of the most prominent and innovative tabla players.

Born on 9 March 1951, in erstwhile Bombay, Hussain was a child prodigy, who was trained by his father, the legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi.

At the age of 3, he learned the mridang, and gave his first public performance by the age of 12.

Over the years, his collaborations with Indian music icons such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma took Indian classical music global.

It would not be a stretch to call Hussain a cultural ambassador for classical Indian music.

Beyond the country’s borders, Hussain’s influence extended far beyond as he showcased the tabla’s versatility through collaborations with international musicians, including guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Charles Lloyd, banjo player Béla Fleck, and drummer Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead.

Hussain was also founding member of the fusion group, Shakti, and worked on groundbreaking cross-genre projects throughout his career.

Among his several accolades, Hussain received India’s prestigious civilian honors, including the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

Internationally, he earned four Grammy Awards, three of which were at the 66th Grammy Awards held earlier this year.

In the early 1990s, he became a familiar face in Indian households when Brooke Bond Taj Mahal tea decided to rope him in for advertisement.

His iconic dialogue ‘Waah Taj!’ is still etched in the hearts of Indians.

Hussain’s contributions to music were also academic; he served as a visiting faculty member at prestigious institutions and regularly conducted workshops to mentor the next generation of musicians.

He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and teacher, and their daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.