Zakir Hussain: A beacon of music, humility and inspiration

His sweet touch on the tabla remains unparalleled; his mojo was a simmering, slow burn that would light up in perfect time. The perfect accompanist any performer would ever want, Ustad Zakir Hussain evolved and elevated that role, but never to surpass it. Here’s taking a look at his life that inspired millions across the world.
Peers remember the maestro

Bickram Ghosh

‘The world of music has lost its rhythm today’
Ustad Zakir Hussain ji had so much more to contribute. More than a guruji, he was like my elder brother. We lived in the same house in the early ’70s in the US. He used to babysit me back in those days when I was barely 3-4 years old. He was family to me; someone who was like a master, and a big brother, who directed me in my musical journey. The world of music has lost its rhythm today. What he has left behind is something we’ll all cherish
- Bickram Ghosh, percussionist

‘The art of accompaniment that he started influenced all musicians’
I still can’t process the news. He was my guru and I truly believe that a genius like him, who elevated tabla to global acclaim, will always stay with us. To me, he was the perfect traditionalist, and yet he was a trend-setter. The art of accompaniment that he started influenced all musicians, including me, in a great way. We’ll all miss the dance of his fingers on the tabla
- Tanmoy Bose, percussionist