‘I am not the best tabla player in the world’: Ustad Zakir Hussain

Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain’s memory of performing at the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival goes back to when he was 16 years old. He recalls, “I was to play a 15-minute solo before Pandit Ravi Shankar and my father (Ustad Alla Rakha Khan) were to get on stage. As my name was being announced, Dr Zakir Hussain, the then President of India, walked in and he was startled thinking that he had to perform!” On January 10, the icon will again be associating for a soiree with the cultural organisation and institute for classical music and dance — Bharatiya Kala Kendra.

As he will be joined by notable musicians Sabir Khan on sarangi, Navin Sharma on dholak and Anantha R Krishnan on mridangam at Kamani Auditorium in Delhi, for Ustad Zakir, the highlight is the knowledge transmission that has broken fences and crossed boundaries in recent times. He further explains, “It is now possible for tabla repertoire to be performed on the mridangam or the dholak and to present music that does not just feature one main artiste, but provides an experience that is projected by all performers onstage as one.” The music icon speaks to After Hrs about associating with the organisation, being mentored by his legendary father late Ustad Alla Rakha Khan and more.

Tell us about your affiliation with Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra.

Founders of the organisation — the Charat Ram family, including Shobha Singh and Deepak Singh — have been great supporters of the arts and it is an honour to be accepted by them as their friend. Shobhaji is a fine photographer, her work is beautiful and thought-provoking. I have missed out on playing at the festival for some years now and I really look forward to being there this year.

What are your memories of being mentored by your legendary father Ustad Alla Rakha?

My father has been my guide, guru, mentor, father and friend. The cherished interactions have given me invaluable insight into this wondrous art form. The night before I started serious lessons with him, he asked me if I wanted to learn (I was seven). I, of course, said yes. His response was to wake me up at 3 am, and as the world slept, my learning began. He always told me, ‘Beta, don’t try to be a master; just be a good student and you will get by just fine.’

You’ve been performing for over 55 years. What inspires you even today?

The thirst to learn more, to keep reinventing myself, to try and find new words to tell the same story, to have opportunities to meet musicians from all over the world and learn to transmit my music in their language. These are all exciting and everlasting challenges that keep the interest piqued for all artistes and I am no exception.

You’ve taken the tabla to great heights. Are you satisfied with the way the younger generation is taking the legacy forward?

It is a misconception that I’ve taken the instrument to new heights. This is a collective effort, I’m not the best tabla player in the world. I’m just one of the good ones; there are many of my tabla brothers who on their day are better than me.

You have followers in India as well as America. In what way are they different in the two countries?

When we limit our inquiries to India and America, we do injustice to the reach our music has. Indian classical music is now accepted as one of the premier forms and is heard with equal excitement and eagerness all over the world. Audiences everywhere have become more knowledgeable and respond almost in the same manner as those in India.

A message for your admirers in India...

My request to the lovers of our music is that please don’t just flock to see major marquee artistes but also listen to the younger masters of our art. They need our support and if they get that from us, it will inspire them to do better.

When: January 10, 7 pm

Where: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi