The work of giving recognition and respect to Tabla throughout the world was done by the great Tabla player Zakir Hussain. He died on Monday in a San Francisco hospital. He was just 73 years old. Zakir Hussain was the son of famous tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha. Zakir Hussain
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Ustad Zakir Hussain with Padmabhushan Sajan Mishra at the Padmavibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj Award ceremony held in Delhi in the month of February 2023.
Desire to sing in Sankatmochan Sangeet ceremony remained unfulfilled
People close to Zakir Hussain say that he was very fond of Varanasi also. His last wish was that he should also apply for the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh. For this, he had also sent his application in the 97th Mahotsav but could not attend the same. Mahant of Sankat Mochan Temple Prof. Vishwambharnath Mishra tells that Zakir Hussain had given a memorable recital along with his father Ustad Allarkha in the Kashi Utsav organized by Shri Sankat Mochan Foundation in 1993 at Dhrupad Tirtha Tulsi Ghat. Probably that was his last performance in Banaras. Sultan Khan had accompanied the father and son on Sarangi in that program.
Ustad Zakir Hussain with Padmabhushan Sajan Mishra at the Padmavibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj Award ceremony held in Delhi in the month of February 2023.
‘Ustad’ used to sit on the ground at Kishan Maharaj’s house.
Former President of Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padmashree Dr. Rajeshwar Acharya expressed grief. Rajeshwar Acharya said – Shocked by the sad news that the great tabla player and great artist who brought global fame to the country with tradition is no more among us. He said, Ustad was born in a Ustad’s family and even after global fame, he was polite towards his elders. His conduct had enchanted all the artists in the cultural city of Banaras. Talking about the simple and down to earth behavior of Zakir Hussain, Rajeshwar Acharya said that if Pt. Gudai Maharaj was going to give a program then Zakir Hussain would pick up his tabla and walk along with him. Not only this, at Pandit Kishan Maharaj’s house he never used to sit on his level or on his chair. He often sat down near his feet.
Mukund Sharma shared the picture of his meeting.
Now let us know what other artists of Kashi said
- Tabla player Pt. Puran Maharaj said that whenever he came to Banaras, he would compulsorily visit my house. I have seen him applying the dust of the feet of my father Pt. Kishan Maharaj on his forehead. Father would say a lot but he never sat on the chair in front of him.
- Sitar player Pandit Devvrat Mishra said that my heartfelt tribute is to Ustad Zakir Hussain. The music world will always remember him. Tabla player Pt. Ramkumar Mishra said that Zakir Saheb’s demise is the end of an era of tabla playing. The world rarely finds such a rhythm seeker.
Mahant of Sankatmochan temple paid tribute.
- Young artist Dr. Pritesh Acharya said that in my childhood I had seen him playing with my father along with Pt. Ravi Shankar at the Rimpa Music Festival in 1983. The memory of that program is still intact.
- Ajay Gupta, President of Deepika Cultural Society of India, said that Zakir Hussain gave a new identity to Tabla in the whole world on the basis of his practice. Sitar Nawaz Radheshyam Sharma said that an artist like him is born rarely.
- Mukund Sharma, the debut flute player of Banaras Gharana, expressed his condolences on this tragic incident and said, “There was never such a tabla player and there will never be one. This is a big loss for Banaras and Indian music.”
