Explore the music fraternity, including minister Ashish Shelar, Javed Akhtar, and N.Rajam, came together to honour Ustad Zakir Hussain. Ustad Allah Rakha Khan’s family, including Ustad Fazal Qureshi and Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, along with many senior musicians, paid heartfelt tribute to legendary Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. His students and the music fraternity celebrated his legacy and contributions to Indian Classical Music and Tabla at a prayer meeting.
Pandit Yogesh Samsi Pays An Heartfelt Tribute
Pandit Yogesh Samsi began the heartfelt homage to the great tabla maestro on behalf of Allah Rakha Khan family, Antonia Minnecola wife of Ustad Zakir Hussain and his two daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi and his entire family of students. Panditji said, Zakir Bhai was a rare gem created by God, who won the heart of music lovers across the globe. He was like a big brother, guru and a visionary to us. He was like a sun to inspire not only his own shishya’s but the music lovers of the entire world. What he did for the propagation of Tabla as an instrument is incredible, and it is difficult to have such musicians. He has completed one Avaryan ( circle of life), and has reached the Sam, May he rejoice his next journey.”
Cultural Minister’s Kind Words For Zakir Hussain
Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister, Ashish Shelar, paid heartfelt tribute to Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. He stated, ‘On behalf of the Maharashtra Government ,CM Devendra Fadnavis, and 14 crore citizens, I pay homage to Ustad Zakir Hussain. I first met him in Nashik as a corporator; I had never seen such a humbled artist of his stature. It was once in his program in Nagpur where all the police commissioners, and ministers reached to listen to him.
Simultaneously, a lathi charge on an Adivasi Samaj Morcha caused a stampede, leading to one death and several injuries; Adivasis were hospitalized. Ustadji learned of the incident, felt their pain, reached the hospital, and donated his entire event fee for their treatment – such was his compassion. ‘As a musician, he took his listeners to absolute bliss. I pray Almighty that he be in absolute bliss now and attain Mukti. Om Shanti.’
Present on the occasion were Vidushi N Rajam, Pandit Suresh Tawalkar, Santoor Maestro Rahul Sarma, Sarangi Maestro Sabir Khan, Music composer Louis Banks and lyricist Javed Akhtar and VP Shanmikhananda Sabha amongst many musicians who came to pay their tribute.
Murari Bapuji And Nayan Ghosh Remember Zakir Hussain’s Perspectiive
Spiritual Guru Murari Bapuji sent a video message to pay homage to Ustad Zakir Hussain. Murari said, He presented his tabla performances at our Hanuman temple for many years. He was very sensitive towards the artists with whom he performed irrespective of someone being a veteran artist or a new comer. He would always support and encourage them on stage, which is a very big quality in an artist which makes his real stature. It was too early for him to leave, I pray to for his noble soul, Jai Siya Ram.
Pandit Anando Chatterjee Shares An Video Message
Pandit Anando Chatterjee homaged Zakir Bhai via video message, ‘I knew him over five decades. Ustad Zakir Hussain was the 8th wonder of the world, one of the greatest table maestros. Zakir learned table from his father and many Ustads, especially Ustad Tirakhwa Khan Saheb. He digested diverse music styles, incorporating them into his unique presentation. An excellent soloist and accompanist, he collaborated with many international artists, exploring various music genres.’
Vidushi N Rajam said, We all know the soul which has come, has to go back, that’s nature and we have to accept it. I met Zakir Bhai at a very young age when I started my career.
I went to meet Ustad Allah Rakha Khan Saheb when he lived in Mahim. Zakir had asked me to play violin, after playing for 2-3 minutes he stopped me and called Zakir to play with me, who was 10 years old and was playing cricket at that time. He played tabla with me for sometime and then when I finished he asked my leave to go back and play again. He had such an innocence and charisma, a magic in himself and his craft, till the end. That’s why we all are here who love him so much. I pray to God to give strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss and his soul to rest in peace.
Sumantra Ghosal The Close Friend Of Zakir Hussain
Documentary maker. Sumantra Ghosal, who collaborated with Ustad Zakir Hussain on ‘The Speaking Hand and the Art of Indian Drum,’ expressed. ‘ I cannot believe his twinkling eyes are sealed or his magical fingers have stilled.‘ I first met Zakir 35 years ago making the Wah Taj Commercial. I was shocked then to discover no film record of this musical genius existed.‘ 
He added, Zakir the artist has bequeathed upon me so much wealth that lives with me that I can’t spend it. But, he digged a whole in my heart that I cannot fill.He made me feel special and valued. Beyond his immense table gift, he possessed the ability to make anyone feel valued. Among his many lessons, he taught me generosity and embracing others cost nothing. Infact this is how you keep yourself young and relevant in the fast changing world. He was perhaps the most secure and the most unthreatened of any artist.
Javed Akhtar Pays A Special Tribute In His Poetic Style
Javed Akhtar shared in his poetic style, We often have certain things which are not in use, we only have things, which are in use. Similiarly our dictionaries have the words which are often used. For a kind of a man who takes birth after centuries we don’t have the words to express. So if we try to praise Zakir Hussain Saheb we use the words to describe people of much lesser calibre that he had.
Zakir Saheb was an extraordinary man who had so much love for his art, but when he played Tabla it seemed it was his first performance to play in front of an audience. He had such a connect and charisma and love for his art, and his listeners. Many artists excel as performers but lack great personas, or vice versa. Real greats are both; superb artists and excellent personas. Zakir Hussain was a such person.
Discussimg his association with the maestro, he said, ‘I worked with him on ‘Tiranga,’ a program produced by Durga Jasraj. I wrote five poems on each tricolour: orange, white, green and the chakra. An entire jugalbandi of all colors followed. Pandit Jasrajji ,Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, and Pandit Shinivajisji performed to interpret my poem.‘
Referring to his ‘Guftagu’ interview series, he recalled asking Zakir Saheb about Gharanas. Zakir Saheb explained that a Guru’s style, followed by disciples for generations, becomes a Gharana’s specialty. He discussed this with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, who stated Zakir Saheb could play every table gharana’s style best. However, the problem is, every tabla player wants to be Zakir Hussain.
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