Table Player Ustaad Zakir Hussain Is No More!

Renowned Tabla player Zakir Hussain breathed his last today. Born on March 9, 1951, in Bombay, he learned the art of playing the tabla under his father’s guidance and began performing in concerts at the age of seven. He was admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital with heart related problems. The doctors later confirmed that he is no more.

Zakir Hussain graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and later earned a doctoral degree in music from the University of Washington.

In 2016, Hussain became the first Indian musician to be invited to the White House by former US President Barack Obama for the All-Star Global Concert. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023 by the Government of India.

In addition to a career in music, Zakir Hussain has acted in several films. His loss is irreplaceable and an era has come to an end with his demise.

Rest in pace, Ustad.