As per the family's tradition, the boy should have carried the surname Qureshi, but the baba said the boy must be named after Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet, as the boy might become a fakir (wandering ascetic) in future. The boy who would have been Zakir Qureshi, thus became Zakir Hussain, who, over half a century, brought an evergreen musical spring to the tabla. In the process, he also gave a distinct identity and individuality to the tabla artist, who until then had mostly been relegated to the role of an accompanist.
Upon hearing of Hussain passing away, I was reminded of a tribute by American drummer-musician Dave Grohl to John Bonham, one of western percussion's all-time greats: "John Bonham played the drums like someone who didn't know what was going to happen next - like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. No one has come close to that since, and I don't think anybody ever will. I think he will forever be the greatest drummer of all time."
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Amritsar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Amritsar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
US warship shoots down its own navy jet over Red Sea
A US Navy jet was shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent \"friendly fire\" incident, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Dozen auto firms set to be excluded from PLI scheme
THESE AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO START INVESTING AS PLANNED
Lenders auction more gold as Reserve Bank steps up scrutiny
Companies lending against gold are auctioning the collateral in higher quantities to recover stressed loans, at a time of rising regulatory scrutiny over the sector.
Nigeria: 32 die in stampedes
Nigerian police on Sunday raised the death toll to 32 from two stampedes outside centres distributing food to the poor.
Trudeau under fire; liberals eye Freeland
Pressure continues to mount on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to quit, even as a movement is afoot within the ruling Liberal Party caucus for him to be replaced by Chrystia Freeland, who was Deputy PM and Finance Minister till her bombshell resignation, on Monday.
Angry questions in Germany after Christmas market attack
The head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explain why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand
Need to make India's roads accident-free
The tragic incident in Bengaluru, where a container truck lost balance and fell atop a car (a brand that is arguably the safest in the world), crushing it and killing its occupants, highlight three reasons why India has among the most unsafe roads in the world.
Foreign policy experts must listen to the street
In his address at the launch of India's World—a magazine focused on India's foreign policy—on December 15, external affairs minister S Jaishankar made an unconventional argument.
Path to a simple and rational GST
Indirect tax regime needs to be rejigged and an honest debate on fiscal federalism and the politics and economics of welfare is essential
What the Pelicot rape case says about society
There is something about a woman unafraid. A woman uninterrupted. A woman unperturbed by what she can lose. Mostly, it's a woman who has nothing left to lose. Or so she thinks.