King of Spontaneous Creativity

Ustad Zakir Hussain was engaging, his spontaneous creativity along with a smooth connect with the audience made him different from others and was at the same time extremely disciplined and helpful

It is very saddening and shocking to use the prefix “late” while making a mention of Khalifa Ustad Zakir Hussain sahab. The entire music fraternity is struggling to cope with the loss and to accept what has happened. I have a lot to share about Zakir Sahab. God blessed him with a quality that made him apart from all. Ustad Zakir Hussain was the one and only tabla player that created magic on stage. Remember how the audience would start applauding as soon as he played the first beat as he began his performance. We all young tabla players have learnt and got inspired from him to a great extent. He was engaging, his spontaneous creativity along with a smooth connect with the audience made him different from others. Zakirji was not restricted to the gharana singing bestowed upon him. He has performed creations of all gharanas. We have closely watched his performances and have silently got inspired. 

Zakirji introduced the entire world to the art of Tabla playing by simplifying it to the masses. The likes of Ustad Alla Rakha khan who are popularly followed by generations of Tabla players have always been propagating the old style of Tabla playing called – “Gattha Tabla”- which essentially means tabla that’s played using your wrist and your fingers. This style is acquired only when you gain a certain level of expertise. Zakir ji is the last player who actually played Gattha Tabla.

Zakirji accomplished 2 sessions of “Chilla” in his life. Chilla essentially means, rigorous practice of 40 days that involves continuous riaz for 24 hours, with break only for essentials. He has created magic by accompanying Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Ustad Amjad Ali khan, Pandit Ravi shankar ji, Hariprasad Chaurasiya, Shiv Kumar Sharma and many others. What was unique about him was that he was not just a solo Tabla player, but he mesmerized the audience even being an accompanist to the main performers. The chemistry between Zakirji and Ustad Sultan Khan sahab is known to all.

I got an opportunity to visit his house once. I could spend hours with him and can never forget what I learnt from him during that meeting. The occasion was Guru Pournima celebration of Allah Rakha Khan sahab. My Guru Pandit Yogesh Samsi has helped me get an opportunity to play Tabla in front of Zakir ji multiple times on the occasion of Allah Rakha sahab’s death anniversary. I have met Zakirji several times at his concert venues. He was very warm and welcoming. He would address me by various names every time he met me, from “Bhise sir” to “Miyan ji” and many more.

There was one instance in which I played a piece I had prepared in front of him. He very jovially punched me and said, “You have worked really hard especially on ‘dhir dhir’ beats.” I had once played his unique pieces in one of my solo performances. He had heard my performance, and he communicated to me saying, “I follow you on social media and I really liked the way you performed my pieces. I wish you to take my legacy forward.” His words of praise and blessings are my biggest wealth that will keep giving me inspiration to take my passion to the next level.

I am too small to speak about his style of playing, however, I wish to highlight what he was best known for. His style of playing the “Dagga” was a blend of the styles of several Tabla maestros from Ustad karamatulla Khan saheb to Ustab Latif Ahmed Khan Saheb to Ustad Alla Rakha Khan Saheb and Samta Prasad ji from Banaras. He got inspired from all of them and created a unique style of playing the Dagga.

Besides, he was extremely particular about punctuality, discipline and protocols. I would like to narrate an incident that is the best example of his passion for abiding by protocols. I had once visited him on the occasion of Ustad Allah Rakha sahab’s death anniversary. Everyone was dressed in white which was the norm for such an occasion. One of the disciples had not worn white. Zakirji quickly pulled out a white kurta from his bag and handed it over to the visitor. He was helpful and very disciplined indeed.

Ustad ji got tremendous opportunities to showcase his talent on a global platform. However, he was very much true to his roots and he never gave up his Indian citizenship despite being in America for a long period that could have easily given him an opportunity to get US citizenship. His love for his country is reflected in this decision that he made.

I cannot resist from sharing another interesting anecdote involving Ustad ji. In the middle of his performance, he had once invited my guru Pandit Yogesh Samsi up on the stage to perform a duet piece with him. Zakir ji announced to the audience saying, “Ustad Allah Rakha Khan had four sons -Zakir Hussain, Fazal Qureshi, Taufiq Qureshi, and Yogesh Samsi.” Needless to say, Allah Rakha sahab had only three sons, but Zakir ji’s love and respect for my guru Yogesh Samsi was so much that he considered him to be his close brother. Yogesh Samsiji had sought guidance from Ustad Allah Rakha Khan for over 25 years. I am grateful to god for giving me an opportunity to take Zakir ji and Ustad Allah Rakha Khan saheb’s legacy forward, under the expert guidance of my guru Pandit Yogesh Samsi.

(Writer is a Professional Tabla player and student of renowned Tabla player Pandit Yogesh Samsi who was a disciple of Ustad Allah Rakha Khan)