When Zakir Hussain revealed why his mom didn’t want him to play the tabla: Would get food as payment; mom wanted me to have a secure future. – Newz9

Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro who launched Indian classical music to international audiences, handed away on Monday at the age of 73. The musician, revered for his unmatched artistry and his position as a cultural ambassador, died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a persistent lung situation, at a hospital in San Francisco, his household confirmed in a assertion.
“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unmatched legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” the household mentioned.

Tributes poured in from all quarters after information of his passing unfold. Everyone from Bollywood stars to music’s greats, politicians and extra took to social media to honor his legacy. One amongst them was former speak present host Simi Garewal. In her put up, she wrote, “I was sad to learn of the passing away of #ustadazakirhussain. He was a music legend indeed with a buoyant spirit for life. I had a rare rendezvous with him and his wife Antonia. It was wonderful…”

She additionally shared a video from her throwback interview with the legend, the place he revealed a lesser-identified facet of his wrestle to make it to the high. Hussain, who was broadly regarded as the face of the tabla, revealed that his journey to changing into a musical icon wasn’t with out hurdles—even at house. In a now-viral throwback interview with Garewal, Hussain revealed a stunning element about his childhood – his mom had not wanted him to pursue music.

In the interview, Hussain mentioned, “When we were very young, music was still not considered to be something that you could make a decent living or a respectable living. My mother had seen me go to concerts and come back, where as payment I had food given to me packed. She had seen stuff like that and wanted me to have a better life and a secure future. She tried her damnest to make sure I studied and that I went to school and focused on being able to have something to fall back on.”
Despite his mom’s considerations, Hussain’s admiration for his father, the legendary tabla maestro Allah Rakhasolidified his need to pursue music. Recalling his father’s quiet encouragement, he mentioned, “My father encouraged me without actually encouraging me. I just wanted to be him. He was God. I just wanted to emulate him in any way possible.”
Hussain’s ardour for the tabla was unstoppable, main to moments of defiance throughout his youth. The maestro shared a childhood anecdote the place, pissed off with his mom’s restrictions, he tried to run away with a family employee, “At 6, I nearly ran away with a lady who worked in my house. I must’ve been very disgruntled with my mother trying to stop me from playing music. So I told Pujaran, ‘Let’s run away.’ She used to sing a bit, so I told her, ‘You sing and I’ll play, and we’ll make a living. Let’s just run away from home.’”

This urge to play tabla continued into maturity. Hussain revealed, “I would run away from home for a few days to go and play in some other city. Since I was the only one who spoke English, there was great advantage. Letters would come for my father to come and perform, and I would reply saying, ‘He’s not available, he’s in New York or Paris, but his son is good enough and he’d be glad to come and play.’”
Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music are nothing in need of extraordinary. In 2024, he made historical past as the first Indian musician to win three Grammy Awards in a single yr. The maestro was additionally honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2023, amongst quite a few different accolades that marked his illustrious profession.