Renowned tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain once recounted the moment his father, Alla Rakha, cradled him for the first time. According to a report by the news agency PTI, Zakir shared this poignant memory eight years prior. He described how his father introduced him to the world by allowing the rhythms of the musical instrument to resonate in his ears when he was prompted to recite prayers.

Zakir's father softly imparted tabla rhythms to the ears of the infant

Zakir recounted an experience from several years prior, stating, “Upon my arrival home, I was placed in my father's arms. It is customary for the father to whisper a prayer into the baby's ear, offering a warm welcome and imparting positive sentiments. He held me close, leaned in, and softly recited the rhythms of the tabla into my ears.”

Zakir's mother expressed her anger, and Alla Rakha's reaction followed

He proceeded to explain that his mother was extremely angry. She exclaimed, "What are you doing? You are meant to recite prayers, not rhythms." In response, he asserted that these rhythms were indeed his prayers and represented his method of worship. He identified himself as a devotee of Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesh, despite being a devout Muslim. He emphasized that this understanding was imparted to him by his teachers, and he wished to share it with his son.

The Maestro of Indian Percussion

The renowned tabla maestro passed away at a hospital in San Francisco due to complications related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as reported by his family on Monday. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

He completed his early education at St. Michael’s School in Mahim and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College, both located in Mumbai. In his youth, he often travelled by train, and when unable to secure a seat, he would lay newspapers on the floor to rest. To protect his tabla from being touched by others' feet during these journeys, he would hold the instruments in his lap while sleeping, according to PTI.

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