With Zakir Hussain, tabla Started on its solo journey
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand|December 17, 2024
baba came to Ustad Alla Rakha's house the day his wife delivered their first son. 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.
S Gopalakrishnan
With Zakir Hussain, tabla Started on its solo journey

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."

In a 1964 interview, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, possibly the first acclaimed tabla soloist, contested an assumption that placed tabla further to pakhavaj in Indian percussion evolution: The origin of tabla has always attracted contesting views. Be that as it may, the instrument remained the principal percussion ingredient in North Indian folk and classical music since the 18th century, and Hussain will be remembered as its most cherished global face.

This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Uttarakhand.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Uttarakhand.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES UTTARAKHANDView All
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Not done yet, lot of cricket left in me, says Ashwin

The game gave me so much to a point where it allowed me to be creative and explore the best inside me R ASHWIN, ex-India spinner

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Fit-again Renuka Thakur back to spearheading India's pace attack

Renuka Thakur knew that to achieve the breakthrough performance she was aiming for, a conversation with the legendary Jhulan Goswami was necessary.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Ex-India batter Kambli stable in hospital

ON SATURDAY, KAMBLI WAS ADMITTED IN AAKRUTI HOSPITAL IN THANE BY HIS WELL-WISHER SAILESH THAKUR, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Khel Ratna list not finalised, says ministry on Manu 'snub'

Ministry says shooter did not apply for the award, even as family asks why the process must be so stringent given her Paris feat

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Record chase in women's 50-over game

The suspense over Mohammed Shami featuring in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series is over with the Indian cricket board announcing that the pacer has been ruled out of any participation in the last two Tests because of a knee condition.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

GMR SPORTS TO LAUNCH RUGBY 7S FRANCHISE-BASED LEAGUE NEXT YEAR

GMR Sport announced the launch of a franchise-based Rugby 7s league in a 10-year strategic partnership with Rugby India, the national governing body for the game.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

India wait for Shubman to sort out scoring issues in away Tests

The No.3 batter has a range of shots, but hasn't shown patience early on and has struggled on this tour of Australia

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Good bowlers are excited to come to MCG, says curator

The weather in Melbourne has already dropped from a high of 37°C a day after the team landed here to a max of 18°C on Monday.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Sales ratio shows growing e-mobility ecosystem in 2024

The number of fossil fuel-based vehicles sold for every electric vehicle (EV) in the two-wheeler and light motor vehicle categories has fallen in 2024, compared with last year, a positive indicator for the EV ecosystem in the country.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Honda, Nissan to fuse into automobile giant

Honda and Nissan are in talks to merge by 2026, they said on Monday, a historic pivot for Japan's auto industry that underlines the threat Chinese EV makers now pose to the world's long-dominant legacy car makers.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024