Singer Hariharan writes an emotional note on Ustad Zakir Hussain, says ‘The world has lost its rhythm’

Singer Hariharan on Monday, December 16, 2024, shared a heartfelt tribute to late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, with whom he had collaborated on several projects. Hariharan’s note summed Hussain’s impact on music as well as the lives of those who knew him.

“Zakir bhai wasn’t just a master of the tabla; he was the heartbeat of music itself,” Hariharan wrote, mourning the loss of a friend he regarded as a brother.

Highlighting the ustad’s ability to transcend musical boundaries and connect with audiences, Hariharan wrote: “His hands could create worlds, his rhythms could tell stories, and his soul poured into every beat he played.”

Beyond his genius, Zakir Hussain was remembered for his warmth, humility, and generosity. “He lifted everyone around him, not just with his genius, but with his warmth and boundless generosity,” Hariharan wrote. The two shared a bond based on music, laughter, and an unspoken understanding.

The loss, Hariharan said, feels as though “the world has lost its rhythm.” He mentioned Zakir Hussain’s selflessness and dedication to his craft, which touched countless lives. “Zakir bhai dedicated his life to giving — to music, to people, to life itself. That selflessness, that light, will forever stay with me and all who were blessed to know him,” he wrote, signing off with a “shattered heart.”

The 73-year-old tabla maestro, who once called the percussion instrument his “mate, brother and friend,” died in a San Francisco hospital early on Monday (US time).

The globally-recognised multi-Grammy winner and one of India’s most celebrated artists had been suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a type of lung disease, his family said in a statement. He had been hospitalised for the past two weeks and was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition deteriorated.

Born on March 9, 1951, Hussain was the son of tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha. He gave his first performance at the age of seven and began touring at 12. In his early career, Hussain collaborated with virtually all of India’s eminent performers of the time, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma.

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