Now he will play his rhythms for the Angels in heaven

The resonant beats of the tabla, once mesmerizing in their cadence and captivating audiences all over the world, have now reached the celestial spheres. Ustad Zakir Hussain, the unrivalled maestro of rhythm, is no more; he has left this world, leaving an indelible mark on his death. News of his demise saw fans, fellow musicians, and world leaders alike pouring out an avalanche of grief intermingled with reverence. They celebrated a man who had crossed borders and cultures, a man whose tabla spoke the universal language of joy, sorrow, and divine connection.

Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir Hussain was the born-to-banish kind of artist who had the barriers to break down that lay ahead within the horizon of Indian classical music. The son of the great tabla wizard Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir was introduced into the world of rhythm early in life.

His father’s strict yet loving mentorship inculcated in him not only technical prowess but also an understanding of music as a spiritual pursuit. At the age of seven, Zakir began performing, revealing maturity and dexterity that belied his years. Zakir’s was not a journey of mere excellence over an instrument; it was the redefinition of the role of the tabla in the world of music. Conventionally seen only as an accompanying instrument, Zakir turned it into a solo art form. And performances for him were not concerts but dialogues with the divine. “He made the tabla sing,” said the legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, underlining Zakir’s ability to infuse the instrument with an emotive, lyrical quality.

Working with some of the greats across genres and geographies also happened over the decades. From accompanying Ravi Shankar to forging the iconic fusion band Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin, Zakir brought Indian classical to an international audience. These are complemented by several other collaborations he did, like those with Mickey Hart, George Harrison, and Yo-Yo Ma, standing tall as testaments of his versatility and openness toward new musical horizons.

These collaborations did not dilute the essence of his art but instead enhanced it, showing the adaptability of the tabla in diverse musical landscapes. The awards and accolades simply flowed in. He became the youngest percussionist to get the highly prestigious Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002, the fourth and third-highest civilian honours of India, respectively. Zakir also won Grammy Awards, the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and a raft of international accolades. Every award was indicative of not only his incredible skill but also his relentless pursuit to preserve and innovate upon his art form.

Zakir’s life wasn’t just about music-it was about humility, it was about humanity, about an ever-strong passion for giving back. He instituted the Ustad Alla Rakha Institute of Music to groom young talent, so the rich tradition of Indian percussion would keep flowing, uninhibited, with the arrival of each new generation. Be it through his lectures, workshopping, or interactions worldwide, he shared a few words of warmth and wisdom with students.

“Music is not about competition; it is about communication,” he would say, and he lived by it.

The same verve, the same exuberance, and that most infectious of smiles made Zakir equally at ease on globally famous stages as in privacy. Zakir can send the teeming audiences at Carnegie Hall into raptures, never mind a congregation assembled at a small backyard courtyard anywhere in India. For his each performance was different – rhythm intermingled with sentiment, and one felt entranced constantly.

Zakir’s influence went far beyond music. Indeed, he was a cultural ambassador who could speak with his art of peace and unity. Renowned composer Philip Glass said, “When Zakir played, the world seemed smaller, kinder.” Indeed, Zakir’s tabla was more than an instrument; it was to connect hearts and break barriers.

Zakir remained perennially and deeply grounded amidst monumental success. For all achievements, he looked toward his father and gurus to accord due credit and regard himself as a lifelong student. “The tabla teaches you humility,” he said once. “Its depth is infinite; you can never truly conquer it.” That made him not a mere musical icon but an unforgettable human being.

In his later years, Zakir continued to perform, compose, and inspire. Even as his physical health began to fail him, his love for the music remained as intense as it had ever been. His last performance, only weeks before his death, was a rhythm-and-resilience master class. “The beats will continue long after I’m gone,” he said to the audience-the poignancy of a reminder that his art would live on.

Zakir’s departure leaves a void that can never be filled. Yet, his music remains-an immortal treasure for generations to come. His tabla rhythms echo in concert halls, in the hearts of his disciples, and now, perhaps, in the heavens.

With condolence, the world as a whole is rejoices. Tributes came floating from each and every other corner of the world within no time. The official Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled him as “to me a true Bharata Ratna in spirit. though never formally conferred.”. John McLaughlin “my brother in music – and life”. Students-gifted prodigies-remember him as an uninhibited mentor whose tips for life’s journey weren’t limited to music alone.

As his longtime fellow musician and friend, Mickey Hart, said, “Zakir wasn’t a musician; he was a magician. His rhythms held the power to heal, to unite, and to transcend. Today, as we bid adieu to Zakir Hussain, we are comforted by the belief that his journey is not over. He joins the stars, where his tabla will play along with the celestial orchestra. The angels have gained a maestro, and we, a guardian of rhythm in the cosmos. His life reminds us that true greatness does not lie in talent but in using it to illuminate the world. 

Rest in peace, Ustad Zakir Hussain. Your beats have stopped, but your rhythm will go on forever.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others.