GOOD BYE USTAAD ZAKIR HUSSAIN (1951- 2024)

                                         

GOOD BYE  ZAKIR HUSSAIN  (1951- 2024)

In style and technique, he resembled neither Ustad  Ahmed Jan Thirkawa nor Pandit Shanker Ghosh .Though his father and Tabla wizard,  Ustad Allah Rakha collaborated with some Western masters, Zakir removed the fence and broke all barriers in music. There is hardly any musician in the Western world who hasn't acknowledged , appreciated and either  collaborated or desired to collaborate with Zakir Hussain. He gave international name and fame to Tabla ,the Indian percussion instrument. Some percussionists who were his close friends include Billy Cobham , Mickey Hart and Virgil Donati. For Indian musicians, he remained a humble friend philosopher and guide. I have seen him appearing tallest as he touched the feet of some senior musicians of the country,   a sincere demonstration of Indian culture and ethos. Zakir Hussain never considered himself a Guru. He believed in  and also  practiced Albert Camus's  words,  " Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead

Walk beside me… just be my friend." 

And to an interviewer , Zakir Hussain once said this :-

" Don't worry about being a great master or Guru , just try to be a great student . As long as you are a great student , the well of knowledge will not dry up." 

One among  many compositions of the master that I liked was "Shiva's Damru" . Through percussion beats, he created  magical effect  of a combination of  Shiva's  Tandava and Parvati's Lasya dance . 

 Zakir Hussain's brothers , Taufiq , Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi, are also accomplished percussionists, continuing the family's musical tradition. Zakir has worked with several Western artists in his lifetime, including names like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, and Edgar Meyer. He has also won four Grammy Awards  in his entire career apart from Padma-Shri, Padma-Bhushen and Padma- Vibhushan .

He liked to wear elegant silken Kurtas . He loved South Indian food . Nearly four decades ago, he relocated to San Francisco with his family, where he  made remarkable contributions to the global music scene. However, he kept his Indian roots intact. It never occured to his Indian fans that Ustaad lived in the US. In the West , he would speak about  Indian classical dances, Ajanta- Elora sculptures, backwaters of Kerela,  Kalbeliya dancers of Rajasthan , Varanasi Ghats , Sacred Himalayas, Hindustani Classical 1usic ,Indian films and many other subjects close to his heart.His wife Antonia Minnecola , herself a trained Kathak dancer , gave him enough space for his creative activities . Antonia, who is lovingly known as Toni, had received training from the legendary Sitara Devi.

The duo dated for a good seven years before marriage. However, their marriage was not easy as they tied the knot without Zakir's mother's approval.

                                           

                      

Inspite of his stature and fame, Ustaad remained a family man ; a helpful brother, a caring husband , a compassionate friend and an affectionate father to  his two talented daughters .And Zakir Hussain's  father was a proud Dogra who hailed from a village falling in  Samba district of Jammu. Ustaad Allah Rakh spoke fluent Dogri and was also honoured by Dogri Sanstha, Jammu. 

Zakir Hussain pursued his education at St. Michael's High,Mumbai  School and later graduated from St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. Hussain also earned a doctorate in music from the University of Washington.

Jaya Parimu, retired professor of music has this to say  :-

" Zakir Hussain  was a phenomenon .He shared a unique sweetness with Ahmad Jan Thirkwa .But was ahead of him in innovative techniques.So mush so that he made tabla to speak,sing and dance . Ghaseet and Meend  , a vocal and instrumental bastion ,Zakir made his tabla playing both Gamak,Ghaseet and Meend .With phenomenal skilled hands and fingers, down to earth attitude , he was a genuine devotee of Indian Shastriya Sangeet   and deities of music . I miss him a lot ,though he lives on as he has left a rich legacy behind."

Ustad Zakir’s influence extended to academia as well. He served as an Old Dominion Fellow and full music department professor at Princeton University during the 2005–2006 academic year. He also worked as a visiting professor at Stanford University, where he shared his profound knowledge of rhythm and music with students.

He had respiratory problems due to lung fibrosis. Inspite of the best treatment , he couldn't be saved . Peace be to his soul. Such artists tread the surface of this planet rarely and  after many centuries .

( Avtar Mota)

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