My first introduction to music was watching this youthful curly-haired maestro speaking with his hands on Doordarshan. As a three-year-old, I'd tune into DD 1 waiting to catch a glimpse of this pretty boy with a smile jamming with his cute dad. So enchanted I was that when I turned four and my singer father asked me if I wanted to learn Hindustani vocals, I protested and egged him to enroll me into tabla classes instead. I wanted to be Zakir Hussain (not even like Zakir Hussain, but be him!). My nascent mind was clear, and my curly hair only bolstered my confidence.

Such was my obsession with the ustad that for the longest time while growing up, Taj Mahal had little to do with Shah Jahan and I thought that's where this good-looking and well-spoken ustad lived. His catchy "Wah Taj" was a compliment reserved only for great tabla players, which I hoped to become one day.— % &I had trouble picking tabla at first, but soon I found my rhythm, passing my first year with ease. Then the phase of the grind arrived—the phase that troubles every aspiring student and separates the novice from the maestros—the phase where it needs ten times more practice to jump from one's present level to the next. Zero to one is easy. One to hundred is where it takes a toll. I never could break through this. I was too indisciplined, too egoistic, too complacent to enjoy my cocooned talent. I left tabla, dabbled into other instruments, delighted I could play any song on all of them, albeit badly. In a lot of ways, leaving tabla prophesied my life. I ended up becoming a jack of all trades. I gave up on hardwork after reaching a stage where I could show off to the amateurs, while attracting a mature indifference from the gifted. Be it writing, music or even startups. I reached the stage of moderate success in every field and it was right there, I stopped progressing. It was exactly here I stopped putting in the hours.— % &Talented but not extraordinary, this pretty much became the title of my life. Until last month, when I decided to change it. I was at home and of all the instruments, I decided to return to tabla once again. I don't know what prodded me, but I felt a calling. I found a teacher who was patient, non-commercial and focuses on practicality more than theory. And I rediscovered my childhood fascination for this ageless master with fluid fingers, a face filled with so much feelings and a beautiful voice with a delicate diction for both Hindi and English. I rewatched his early tabla play, his jam with his bud Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma and then panditji's son Pt. Rahul Sharma. I watched his jams with his father Ustad Allah Rakha, his fabulous hour-long talk at Google, his documentary Speaking Hands and his most recent work with Shakti. I fell in love yet again.— % &I had the privilege of watching him live not once, but twice in my life. Once with Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma who said Zakir played the most intricate tihais, which I had little idea. The other time, I had the opportunity to listen to him live in Nehru Park in Delhi for a Spic Macay concert with Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar. Both times, being more into string instruments at the time, I followed the instrumentalists over the perfectionist percussionist accompanying them, though it was hard to take my eyes off his expressions. He lived the beats he was playing! I wish I were educated enough to hear what his speaking hands were saying back then. Now that I am learning tabla again, I am back to being the three-year-old Harsh yet again, waiting for Doordarshan to play Baje Sargam anytime now. Only this time, I type Baje Sargam on YouTube and watch him play. Once. Twice. Thrice. I am learning tabla again. If I am able to break through in my journey this time around, I know what I would do. I will YouTube and make ustad say two words to me. Wah Taj.— % &

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Zaroori nahi kuch todne ke liye
phattar hi mara jaye,
Lehja badal ke bolne se bhi
bohat kuch toot jata hai.

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अपने और पराये की पहचान में
मैं हर बार गिरफ्तार हूँ
मैं शून्य पें सवार हूँ

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कल रात मैं शायद जल्दी सो गया,
इसलिए मेरी नींद मुझसे आज ख़फ़ा है।
कल तकिया गीला किया था मैंने,
इसलिए मेरी आँखें मुझसे आज ख़फ़ा हैं।
वैसे तो हर रोज़ की तरह ही मेरी आदत थी ये,
आईने में छिपी मेरी ज़िल्ल की इबादत थी ये।
पर रोना तो मुझको अब आसान सा लगता है,
चश्मों का पानी अब पशेमान सा लगता है।
अब जो मेरी रूह के परखच्चे हो गए हैं,
जो लगते थे पराये, आज वही सच्चे हो गए हैं;
तो क्या लगता है, वो भी कब तक साथ देगा,
मौका मिलते ही ज़ाकिर, इस रूह को मात देगा।
भूल जाएगा हर वादा, वो इस मौसम में,
जब की होगी हर उम्मीद उस मुजस्सम से।

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कि,तेरी बेवफाई के अंगारो में लिपटी रही रूह मेरी,
मैं,इस तरह आग ना होता,जो हो जाती तू मेरी !!

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Mere kuch sawal hain jo sirf kayamat k roz puchunga tumse;
kyoun ki usse pehle tumhari meri baat ho,
is layak nahi ho tum.
Main janna chahta hoon k rakib ke sath,
yuhi chalte huye bekhayali me hath takra jata hai tumhara?
Kya apni choti ungliyon se uska hath tham liya karte ho?
kya waise hi jaise mera tham liya karti thi?
Kya bata di bachpan ki sari kahaniya tumne usko?
jo raat raat bhar baith kar sunai thi tumne mujhe?
Ye kuch sawal hain mere jo sirf kayamat k roz puchunga tumse.
kyoun ki usse pehle tumhari meri baat ho,
is layak nahi ho tum.
Main puchna chahta hoon,
k kya usko bhi seene se laga k matha chumti ho tum?
jaise mera chuma karti thi?
Kya harf me uske liye bhi dua likhti ho tum?
Jaise mere liye likha karti thi?
Sard ratoon main,bandh kamre main,
Tumhari nangi peeth par harf dar harf
Maine jo nam ungliyon se likha karta tha,
aur tum nam ko pehchana karti thi.
Kya ab abhi tum yahi karti ho uske sath?
Ye kuch sawal hain mere jo sirf kayamat k roz puchunga tumse.
kyoun ki usse pehle tumhari meri baat ho, is layak nahi ho tum.

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Zakir Hussain's rhythmic spell...
Weaves magic that echoes so well
In classical realms, his tabla reigns
Touching hearts, with every resonant refrain...

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वैसे तो भाई तुम्हारा बङा सख्त लौंडा हैं
पर अक्सर एक नाम के आगे वह पिघल जाता हैं
वैसे हर सफेदी की चमकान से दूर रहता हैं
पर एक प्यारी सूरत के आगे जिंदगी हार जाता हैं

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Was born on 9th March 1951 in Mahim, Mumbai. He was an Indian Tabla player, composer, Percussionist, Music producer and Film Actor. He was the eldest son of a Legendary Tabla player named Alla Rakha and is widely considered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time.

Haridas Vhatkar ji has been making his tablas for more than 18 years. Haridas ji said he learned how to make Tabla so he could specially make them for Ustad Zakir Hussain.

Ustad Zakir Hussain stated that he did not play at private gatherings, corporate events, or weddings; he believed music should not be heard at events where folks come to socialise, drink or enjoy a meal (music should be the sole purpose of the event).

He won Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. The list of Awards are endless because he dedicated his entire life for Tabla and Music. His Legendary work will always be remembered for generations to come because he made everyone fall in love with Tabla and its various compositions. We are grateful to be born in an era where he was present. We hope his family, friends and musicians gain courage to bear such a huge loss.

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Aaj ankhe jhuki h to kya
Kal ye sir "fakr" se uth jaega
Mera waqt "kayamt" ki tarha h
Dekhna ek din zarur aega

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