The family of Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, Ustad Fazal Qureshi and Ustad Taufiq Quereshi along with many senior musicians paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. His students and the music fraternity celebrated his legacy and contributions to the world of Indian Classical Music and especially Tabla as a musical Instrument, at a prayer meeting held in the memory of the legendary Tabla maestro.
Pandit Yogesh Samsi began the heartfelt homage to the great tabla maestro on behalf of Allah Rakha Khan family, Antonia Minnecola wife of Ustad Zakir Hussain and his two daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi and his entire family of students.
He said, Zakir Bhai was a rare gem created by God, who won the heart of music lovers across the globe. He was like a big brother, guru and a visionary to us. He was like a sun to inspire not only his own shishya's but the music lovers of the entire world. What he did for the propagation of Tabla as an instrument is incredible, and it is difficult to have such musicians. He has completed one Avaryan ( circle of life), and has reached the Sam, May he rejoice his next journey."
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, paid a heartfelt tribute to the Tabla maestro, said, 'I on behalf of Maharashtra Government and CM Devendra Fernandis and 14 crore Maharashtra citizens pay homage to Ustad Zakir Hussain. I met him first time in Nasik when I was just a corporator, I had never seen such a humbled artist of his stature. It was once in his program in Nagpur where all the police commissioners, and ministers reached to listen to him. At the same time there was some lathi charge on an Adivasi Samaj Morcha which caused a stampede leading to a death and injury of a few Adivasi's who were hospitalised. Ustadji came to know about the incident and he felt the pain for the person who died and reached the hospital and donated his entire event fee for the treatment of Adivasi's, such was his compassion and persona. As a musician he took his listeners to a state of absolute bliss and I pray to almighty that he be in absolute bliss now and attain Mukti, Om Shanti.
Present on the occasion were Vidushi N Rajam, Pandit Suresh Tawalkar, Santoor Maestro Rahul Sarma, Sarangi Maestro Sabir Khan, Music composer Louis Banks and lyricist Javed Akhtar and VP Shanmikhananda Sabha amongst many musicians who came to pay their tribute.
Spiritual Guru Murari Bapuji sent a video message to pay homage to Ustad Zakir Hussain. He said, He presented his tabla performances at our Hanuman temple for many years. He was very sensitive towards the artists with whom he performed irrespective of someone being a veteran artist or a new comer. He would always support and encourage them on stage, which is a very big quality in an artist which makes his real stature. It was too early for him to leave, I pray to for his noble soul, Jai Siya Ram.
Pandit Nayan Ghosh remembered Ustad Zakir Hussain with whom he had grown up since early childhood, He said, I can only say the world will miss him, and I pray to God to recharge our Indian music again with such a musician, as he was a very powerful power bank for Indian classical music.
Pandit Anando Chatterjee shared his homage on a video message said, 'I knew Zakir Bhai for over five decades and in one sentence I can say Ustad Zakir Husain was the 8th wonder of the world. He was one of the greatest tabla maestros of all times. He leant tabla from his father and also many Ustads especially Ustad Tirakhwa Khan Saheb, while, he digested various styles of music and incorporated it in his own style of presentation. He was an excellent soloist, but also an excellent accompanist too. He collaborated with so many international artists, to explore various genres of music. He never had a lazy time in his life, as he was always creating music.It's a great irreplaceable loss for Indian classical music and his music lives on till this world exists.'
Vidushi N Rajam said, We all know the soul which has come, has to go back, that's nature and we have to accept it. I met Zakir Bhai at a very young age when I started my career. I went to meet Ustad Allah Rakha Khan Saheb when he lived in Mahim. He asked me to play violin, after playing for 2-3 minutes he stopped me and called Zakir to play with me, who was 10 years old and was playing cricket at that time. He played tabla with me for sometime and then when I finished he asked my leave to go back and play again. He had such an innocence and charisma, a magic in himself and his craft, till the end. That's why we all are here who love him so much. I pray to God to give strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss and his soul to rest in peace.
Taal Yogi Pandit Suresh Tawalkar said, I heard Zakir Bhai at the age of 5 years when he sat in the laptop of his father at the Barsi of Muneer Khan Saheb. What energy I saw in him at that age, he had the same energy till now,which he transferred to his audience and such artists are born in centuries. His own gharana was Punjab Gharana of Tabla, but he tried to incorporate styles of other tabla gharanas learning from many maestros like Ustad Ahmed Jaan Thirakwa, Ustad Ameer Hussain Khan Saheb, Ustad Ameer Uddin Khan Saheb,Pandit Anokhelal, Pandit Shanta Prasad, Pandit Kishan Maharaj ji enriching his craft and created his own style.
He added, An artist can visualise the art before it's depicted and Zakir Bhai was one such artist who could do that, he could express on the tabla all he could imagine. Sometimes we think, but can't play our imagination, but that was his level of expertise. He understood the discipline of every music form be it Hindustani, carnatic, or western music and then collaborated with the artists after understanding his requirements. He has no pride of his achievement, he was so down to earth and would touch the feet of elders and appreciate artists of next generation. He helped popularize tabla as an instrument, he helped the Tabla makers and Karigars and taught the 'tameez' and 'Nazar' to listen to tabla artists. I have never seen such an artist who was superior both as an artist and a human. I pay my heartfelt homage to him.
Music composer Louis Banks said, 'Zakir Bhai was not just a musician he was a true legend, who's mastery of Rhythm and incredible tabla playing changed the world of not just Indian classical music but global music. He blended different cultures and musical styles by staying true to his roots. He created the bridge between the music of East and West mixing the soul of Indian Rhythm with the spirit of Jazz and fusion. His creative energy and instinctive performance of understanding music made it magical.'
He added, For me working with him was magical, as we explored new possibilities with the Group 'Cross Currents' which is close to my heart. We toured to US collaborating on various projects and occasions like on Abbaji's Barsi, Guru Poornima, and many memorable concerts at Prithvi theatre and many collaborations. He was not just a musician, but a kind humbled soul who carried his tradition with pride and respect having learnt from his father Ustad Allah Rakha, carving his own unique path that inspired generations of musicians. To me Ustad Zakir Hussain was not only the greatest tabla player, he was the global ambassador of Rhythm and paragon of creatively. His music will endure for generations and I feel honoured to have shared the stage and lives journey with such an extraordinary artist and friend. Peace be with him.
Documentary maker Sumantra Ghosal who worked very closely with Ustad Zakir Hussain while making the film 'The Speaking Hand and the Art of Indian Drum' said, I cannot believe that those eyes twinkling with mischief are sealed now and those magical fingers have stilled. I first met Zakir 35 years ago when I made the Wah Taj Commercial I was shocked to know at that time to discover that there was no film record of this musical genius. We agreed to work together to address this lapse. Three years later we came up with 'The Speaking Hand' which shockingly remains the only documentary on the man and his art. I admitted hesitantly to Zakir that I don't know much about the tabla and he replied Ignorance is good because your journey of discovery can be viewer's journey as well. He immediately showed me how to make the film and every documentary I made thereafter follows this wisdom.
He added, Zakir the artist has bequeathed upon me so much wealth that lives with me that I can't spend it. But, he digged a whole in my heart that I cannot fill. He did it simply by making me feel that I was special and valued.Apart from his immeasurable gift as a tabla player, this was his gift to make anyone he met to feel special and valued. Among the many things he taught me over the years was that you loose nothing if you are generous and if you embrace others. Infact this is how you keep yourself young and relevant in the fast changing world. He was perhaps the most secure and the most unthreatened of any artist.
He further added, He played on my 50th birthday surprise party, with Ustad Sultan Khan Saheb waiting to play for me, while Zakir insisted on keeping it a surprise as it was his birthday present to me. He played without fuss, hugged me and left to catch an international flight. I will certainly miss the magic of his music and deeply miss the man, farewell my friend.
Javed Akhtar shared in his poetic style, We often have certain things which are not in use, we only have things, which are in use. Similiarly our dictionaries have the words which are often used. For a kind of a man who takes birth after centuries we don't have the words to express. So if we try to praise Zakir Hussain Saheb we use the words to describe people of much lesser calibre that he had.
Zakir Saheb was an extraordinary man who had so much love for his art, but when he played Tabla it seemed it was his first performance to play in front of an audience. He had such a connect and charisma and love for his art, and his listeners. There are many artists who are not great performers but are great personas, while some are great artists but inferior personas, but real people are who are both great artists and great personas, and that was Zakir Hussain.
Talking about his association with the maestro he said, I worked with him on a program 'Tiranga' produced by Durga Jasraj in which I wrote five poems on every colour of the tricolour orange, white, green and the chakra followed by an entire jugalbandi of all colours. Pandit Jasrajji, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Pandit Shinivajisji performed to interpret the poem, that I would read. But when the chakra came Zakir Saheb played it, as if you could see the chakra of Indian National Flag rotating in front of your eyes while I recited, Chakra jiska na arambh hai na ant hai, Chakra Samrat hai Chakra sawant hai, and you could feel the Chakra which is without beginning and the end.
Akhtar compared Zakirji with a thread and stone saying, 'Ustad Zakir hussain was tied with the thread of tradition, while he had tied a stone at the end, that took the Indian classical music to the farthest audiences. If the talent is genuine then one expands with time. Zakir Saheb will also expand with time hereafter. He was not an end of an era, he was a Pioneer of an era, and gave a lot of respect to his elders. I'm glad that the world of Indian music still has kept the values of respecting and bowing in front of the gurus.
Giving a reference to his interview series Guftagu he said, 'I asked Zakir Saheb a question about what is a Gharana and he replied that every Guru has a style of playing or singing and his disciples follow that style, after 3-4 generations that typical style of vocal or instrumental music becomes a speciality of a particular Gharana. I discussed it with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and he told me about Zakir Saheb, that he could play the style of every tabla gharanas better than anyone, but the problem is that every tabla player of every gharana wants to be Zakir Hussain.'
Akhtar concluded by saying, We keep thinking of that, we will keep his memories, instead his memories will keep us alive, as he has left a huge Gharana of his followers, which will expand further with time. Bernard Shaw said, I'm higher than Shakespeare because I'm sitting on his shoulders, Zakir Saheb bhi apne buzurgon ke kandhon pe baithe hue the. The tribute function ended with a short documentary on Ustad Zakir Hussain created by Ustad Allah Rakha Khan Family to give a glimpse into the illustrious life and larger than life persona of the legendary Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain.
