With Zakir Hussain, tabla started on its solo journey
Hindustan Times Amritsar|December 17, 2024
baba came to Ustad Alla Rakha's house the day his wife delivered their first son.
S Gopalakrishnan
With Zakir Hussain, tabla started on its solo journey

As per the family's tradition, the boy should have carried the surname Qureshi, but the baba said the boy must be named after Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet, as the boy might become a fakir (wandering ascetic) in future. The boy who would have been Zakir Qureshi, thus became Zakir Hussain, who, over half a century, brought an evergreen musical spring to the tabla. In the process, he also gave a distinct identity and individuality to the tabla artist, who until then had mostly been relegated to the role of an accompanist.

Upon hearing of Hussain passing away, I was reminded of a tribute by American drummer-musician Dave Grohl to John Bonham, one of western percussion's all-time greats: "John Bonham played the drums like someone who didn't know what was going to happen next - like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. No one has come close to that since, and I don't think anybody ever will. I think he will forever be the greatest drummer of all time."

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES AMRITSARView all
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Israeli strikes kill 20 in Gaza

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AMID TRUCE TALKS

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

ZELENSKY TO MEET EUROPEAN LEADERS AS TRUMP LOOMS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was to meet Nato chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss \"next steps\" on Russia's war as Donald Trump prepares to take office as US president.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

CEO death: Luigi Mangione indicted for murder

Luigi Mangione was indicted in New York on first-degree murder charges for the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson in a shocking case that prosecutors said amounted to an act of \"terrorism\".

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Relief for quick comm as CCI not keen to step in

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is unlikely to open an investigation of its own accord into allegations of anti-competitive practices by quick commerce companies including Zepto, Instamart, and Blinkit, according to two persons privy to the development.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

ZELENSKY TO MEET EUROPEAN LEADERS AS TRUMP LOOMS

Russia has arrested Akhmad Kurbanov of Uzbekistan, who was promised $100,000 and resettlement in an EU country, by Ukraine's security service for the killing

time-read
3 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

France's highest court upholds Sarkozy's corruption conviction

The Cour de Cassation, France's highest court, upheld on Wednesday former president Nicolas Sarkozy's conviction for corruption and influence peddling.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Net direct tax kitty grows 16% on corporate refunds

Gross direct tax collection in 2024-25 (as on December 17) saw a 20.32% year-on-year (y-o-y) jump to ₹19.21 lakh crore, but net collection in the period saw a 16.45% increase at ₹15.82 lakh crore on higher refunds of ₹3.39 lakh crore, particularly on account of corporates, government data said.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Ashwin, match-winner & innovator for the ages

Few bowlers have had an impact on Indian cricket as deep and for as long, as Ravichandran Ashwin.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Raucous debate, lost opportunity

The Constitution debate in Parliament was lost in partisan squabbles instead of discussing new challenges before the nation

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times Amritsar

Paving the path towards universal health coverage

International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day falls in December. For India, the road to UHC starts with increasing government spending on health, a national priority as per the government's policy documents.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 19, 2024