A bolt from the blue

Tabla wizard ustad Zakir Hussain (9 March 1951-15 December 2024) left for his eternal journey at a time when he was supposed to be in Kolkata as a much awaited participant in the Swara Samrat Music Festival. The world of art lovers, film lovers, even tea lovers, is shell-shocked by this sudden bolt from the blue.

- MEENA BANERJEE

Born to tabla maestro Allarakha Khan, he grew up in a modest Mahim area mostly inhabited by musicians, was educated in a public school, and joined St Xavier's College. Apart from his formal education, he started his stage appearance as a seven-year-old at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Sammelan in Pune. SRA's founder director, Pandit Vijay Kichlu, spotted this bright gem. When the idea of organising pan-Indian classical concerts, 'Music on Wheels', crystallised, Kichlu requested him to join the group to collaborate with top musicians like Shivkumar Sharma. VG Jog, A Kanan, and several others. The musicians mapped the length and breadth of the subcontinent to promote classical music.

It was Pandit Ravi Shankar who gave Zakir the real break on the international circuits. By the dint of his sheer talent and terrific hard work, he won the status of one of the most versatile tabla players and shaped him into the most sought-after Hindustani musician. His acting in films and a commercial clip to promote tea brought him to every Indian's living room, and he became a household name. An impressive orator, suave, good-looking, humble and a witty performer, he made the best of the limelight but always remained concerned about the talented gen-next and wished them well very sincerely. Such humane artists are counted as rare species today. This universal loss is irreparable.

PRESTIGIOUS SOIRÉE