Ustad Zakir Hussain admitted to ICU in San Francisco

Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain performs during a concert. File.
| Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has been admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital after experiencing heart related problems, his friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia told PTI on Sunday (December 15, 2024).

The 73-year-old US-based musician, who has taken the tabla to the global stage, had been having blood pressure issues, added Hussain’s manager Nirmala Bachani. “He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a heart related problem for the last two weeks,” Ms. Bachani said.

The news of Hussain’s ailing health, however, led to a flurry of condolences pouring in as unconfirmed reports of his demise flooded the internet. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting posted a condolence message on X, however it was later deleted.

Chief Ministers of Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh were also among those who took to social media to express their sadness over the unconfirmed report.

Hussain’s publicist confirmed to PTI that the percussionist is being treated at the San Francisco hospital and “has not passed”.

Hussain’s sister Khursheed told PTI that her brother is “very very critical” but is “very much breathing at the moment”.

“My brother is deeply ill at this time. We are asking for all his fans around India and around the world to pray for him, to pray for his health. But as India’s greatest ever exports, do not finish him off just yet,” she said.

“I just want to request all the media not to follow wrong information about Zakir’s passing. He is very much breathing at the moment. He is very very critical, but he’s still with us. He has not yet gone. So, I will request (the media) not to spread this rumour by writing or saying that he has passed away. I feel so bad watching all this information on Facebook which is very wrong,” she added.

The eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha, Hussain has followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a marquee name in India and across the world. Hussain has received five Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.

In his career spanning six decades, the musician has worked with several renowned international and Indian artistes, but it was his 1973 musical project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that brought together Indian classical and elements of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown. 

Also read: Zakir Hussain: ‘The student must inspire the teacher to teach’

The percussionist, one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

(With PTI inputs)