Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain critical, family denies death rumors

Photo: Instagram/Zakirhq9

Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, a legendary percussionist known for his exceptional skill and multiple Grammy awards, is currently in critical condition at a hospital in San Francisco. He has been receiving treatment in the hospital's intensive care unit for more than two weeks due to serious heart-related issues. As the news of his condition spread, some media outlets mistakenly reported his death on Sunday, leading to an outpouring of tributes from various public figures on social media. However, his family quickly responded to clarify that these reports were false.

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Zakir Hussain, who is 73 years old, is still fighting for his health, though his condition remains very serious. His manager, Nirmala Bachani, confirmed that he had been in the ICU for an extended period. Hussain's family members, including his sister, Khurshid Aulia, and his nephew, Ameer Aulia, strongly denied the death rumours and asked the media and public to stop spreading false information. Khurshid Aulia shared with the Press Trust of India that while her brother was very ill, he was still alive. She also criticized the misinformation circulating on social media platforms like Facebook, calling it distressing for the family. "We ask for all his fans to pray for his health," she said, emphasizing that he was still with them despite being critically ill.

In a similar statement, Ameer Aulia, Hussain's nephew, took to social media to clarify that his uncle was not dead. He requested people to stop sharing false news and asked for prayers for Hussain's recovery. He further explained that Hussain was in a serious condition and needed everyone's prayers.

Zakir Hussain’s close friend, renowned flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, also expressed concern about his health. He confirmed that Hussain was indeed in the ICU and expressed his worry about the situation, highlighting how deeply everyone close to him was concerned.

In light of the family’s denial of the death reports, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which had previously shared a tribute on social media, removed the post to correct the error.

Zakir Hussain was born in Mumbai and is the eldest son of the famous tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha. From a very young age, Hussain showed his extraordinary talent. At just 13 years old, he performed his first concert, which marked the beginning of his remarkable career. His skilful playing and innovation have earned him global recognition, and his name has become synonymous with tabla music worldwide. One of his most memorable performances was at Carnegie Hall in 2009, where The New York Times described him as a "peerless North Indian tabla player," known for his technical brilliance and playful, inventive style.

Fans from all over the world are praying for Zakir Hussain's recovery, and his friends, peers, and admirers continue to offer their support. Hussain is one of India's most famous and respected musicians, and many hope that he will overcome this critical period and return to his full health soon.