Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain Passes Away
Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, passed away at the age of 79 on December 15, 2024, in San Francisco, leaving behind a legacy of music.
CORRECTION: The video mentions Ustad Zakir Hussain’s age as 79, but this is incorrect. His actual age is 73.
Ustad Zakir Hussain, one of the world's greatest tabla players and a legendary figure in Indian music, passed away on 15th December 2024 in San Francisco, USA. He was 79 years old.
The news of his death spread quickly after several reports confirmed it. Even the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of India shared a condolence message on social media. However, a social media post, reportedly from Hussain’s nephew, Ameer Aulia, soon denied the news, saying that Hussain was alive but in critical condition, and urged fans to pray for his recovery. This led to the deletion of posts from the Ministry and other media personalities like Faye D’Souza.
Early this morning, Hussain's family confirmed his passing with an official statement. The statement revealed that Hussain died due to complications from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease that causes difficulty in breathing. Hussain had been in the hospital for the past two weeks and was shifted to the ICU when his condition worsened.
Born on 9th March 1951, Ustad Zakir Hussain was the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha. He began playing the tabla professionally at just 7 years old and went on to have a remarkable 60-year career. Hussain is known for his exceptional talent, and over the years, he won many prestigious awards. These included 4 Grammy Awards, three of which he received at the 66th Grammy Awards this year, as well as the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023).
In addition to his musical achievements, Hussain became a household name through his appearance in a famous 1990s commercial for Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea. In the ad, his famous line "Wah Taj!" became iconic, making him widely recognized across India.
Tributes have poured in from all over the world. Famous musicians, actors, and politicians have expressed their sadness at his passing. Some of the notable figures who have shared their condolences include Indian flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, musician Ricky Kej, American drummer Nate Smith, singer Anup Jalota, actors Akshay Kumar and Kamal Haasan, businessmen Anand Mahindra and Gautam Adani, and politicians like Rahul Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath, and Shashi Tharoor.
Ustad Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. He will always be remembered for his incredible contribution to Indian and global music.
