The reports that tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away in the USA have been denied by his nephew Ameer Aulia. He has been admitted to ICU at a San Francisco hospital due to critical health problems.
“My uncle Zakir Hussain is very much alive and we would ask the news media not to post mis-information. We ask for prayers and we ask for everyone’s well wishes,” Ameer posted on X.
My uncle Zakir Hussain is very much alive and we would ask the news media not to post mis-information. We ask for prayers and we ask for everyone's well wishes.
— Ameer Aulia (@AmeerAulia) December 15, 2024
The Padma Vibhushan awardee was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago due to serious heart and lung-related issues. As he was in very critical condition, his family already reached the USA to be with him.
Ameer Aulia confirmed that Ustad Zakir Hussain is in a serious condition, and asked for all his fans around the world to pray for his health. “I am Zakir Hussain nephew and he has not passed away. We ask for prayers for my Uncle’s health,” he posted in another tweet.
The legendary Tabla player, son of tabla virtuoso Ustad Allah Rakha, has been unwell for some time. Several of his scheduled concerts have been cancelled due to his illness.
Ustad Zakir Hussain, Tabla player, percussionist, composer, former actor and the son of legendary Tabla player, Ustad Allah Rakha is not well. He’s being treated for serious ailments in a San Francisco hospital, USA, informed his brother in law, Ayub Aulia in a phone call with… pic.twitter.com/6YPGj9bjSp
— Pervaiz Alam (@pervaizalam) December 15, 2024
Earlier in the day, Journalist Pervaiz Alam posted on X that Ustad Zakir Hussain was admitted to hospital due to critical illness, quoting the tabla legend’s brother-in-law Ayub Aulia. Hussain’s manager Nirmala Bachani told the media that he is also battling blood pressure issues.
Apart from being a master Tabla player, Ustad Zakir Hussain is also a composer, percussionist, music producer and film actor. In a career spanning six decades, Zakir Hussain Allaraka Qureshi collaborated with several renowned artists, both Indian and international.
Hussain has won several national and international awards for his music. He won the Grammy award in the Contemporary World Music Album category in 2009, for his album Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, & Giovanni Hidalgo.
