An angelic presence has gone from our lives and I am grappling with that loss. Zakir was the gentlest of souls, a beacon of warmth for everyone he encountered-be they stalwarts such as Pt Ravi Shankar, Shivji (Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma), myself, or be they younger artistes, students, people handling lights, sound at the concerts or those serving chai - he treated everyone with the same openness and respect.
When I first heard of his ill-health, I told myself, "He's in the US, surrounded by state-of-the-art health care and the best doctors, surely he'll pull through; he has to..." Even now, though it's been some hours since his death, a part of me expects to hear his ringing laughter any moment, as if he will call to lighten the heaviness in my chest.
Elevating tabla-playing to new heights
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I've been advised not to meet the victim'
Ꭰays after his release from jail in Hyderabad, actor Allu Arjun has been seen spending time with his family and friends with many wondering why he has not yet visited the nine-year-old boy who got injured in the Sandhya Theatre stampede.
Between rain pauses, India's top order gets a reality check
Jaiswal, Gill and Kohli fall to poor shots as hosts take control of the third Test at the Gabba on a stop-start Day 3
Villa rental firms set for a happy holiday season
NEW DELHI: As the year ends, villa rental companies are gearing up for a busy season, buoyed by extended travel plans with two midweek holidays-Christmas is on a Wednesday and New Year's Eve on a Tuesday.
Israel-Hamas war: Toll in Gaza tops 45,000
The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 14-month war between Israel and Hamas militants has topped 45,000 people, Palestinian health officials said on Monday, with 52 dead arriving at hospitals across the bombedout strip over the past 24 hours.
'B'desh to hold polls in late 2025 or early 2026'
DHAKA: Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, said on Monday that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.
Canada finance min quits over rift with PM on Trump tariffs
OTTAWA: Canada's finance minister Chrystia Freeland quit on Monday after clashing with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on issues including how to handle possible US tariffs, dealing another blow to an already unpopular government.
World mourns death of a musical genius
Zakir Hussain, whose \"dancing fingers\" made him one of the greatest players of the table, died on Sunday from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, prompting an outpouring of grief from across the globe as people mourned the loss of the musical genius.
USTAD, ON & OFF THE STAGE
Zakir Hussain didn't just carry forward the legacy of his illustrious father, Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, he elevated tabla-playing to heights never scaled before by taking classical music to the masses and making his art form accessible to all
SC raises alarm over rising drug abuse among youth
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday termed drug abuse a generational threat that could \"corrode the shine of the nation's youth\" and expressed concern over substance abuse being seen as a \"cool\" lifestyle marker.
SC questions woman lawyer seeking bar quota
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday raised eyebrows over a woman lawyer engaging a male advocate to argue her petition for a 33% reservation for women in Gujarat bar associations.
