Ustad Zakir Hussain Sahab was one of those rare souls whose contributions transcend time. As Guru Jnan Prakash Ghosh aptly said, his music is like Lord Krishna’s — vivid, multifaceted, and brimming with colours. He not only upheld the deepest traditions of our art but had also been one of its greatest trailblazers.

I have been fortunate to receive his blessings, both as a younger brother and as a student, and I will always cherish those moments. Zakir Sahab was a towering figure who has elevated the tabla to unprecedented heights on the global stage, inspiring countless musicians, including myself, with his unparalleled artistry. He introduced a new style of accompaniment that has since become a standard for us all to follow.

His humility, profound respect for tradition, and reverence for the great masters of the past have been an invaluable lesson to us all. His contributions as a composer, teacher, performer, music director, his amalgamation of Indian classical and jazz through his band Shakti and his collaborations with the greatest jazz artistes remain unparalleled. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.

I feel deeply blessed to have witnessed his performances on numerous occasions and to have experienced his love and blessings whenever we met. To me, he was no less than a messiah, someone who conquered the world through the sheer brilliance of his music. Legends like him never truly pass — they live on in their art, their influence, and the hearts of those they touched.

Zakir Sahab had mastered all the schools of tabla — his unique presentation as a soloist and his unparalleled sense of accompaniment was a learning curve for me. I fondly remember, many decades ago, while in performance with the immortal trio Pt. Ravi Shankar Ji, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahab, and his father and guru Ustad Alla Rakha Sahab at Netaji Indoor stadium in Calcutta, he paid respect to his great masters yet established his sublime presence on stage, which was also a statement of his musical genius.

His contribution in supporting younger musicians following the great traditions of our music, was remarkable. In spite of his tremendously busy schedule, he took time out to teach numerous students and guided them to the right path. Many of us were like Ekalavya, learning every moment from Zakir Sahab. He mastered both the styles — Hindustani and Carnatic traditions — opening up horizons for the subject of tabla.

I have, on a personal note, believed in his various philosophies of music — his unconditional respect for his gurus and all the other stalwarts of our form and style of music surpasses even the indomitable. On numerous occasions I have experienced him playing with great vocalists, dancers and instrumentalists — his colours of music changed every time and matched the philosophy of the artistes present on stage.

I feel blessed to have walked on this earth to witness the genius he was and learn from the closest proximity. I was once standing in a green room where he was sitting and as a mark of respect he said to me, “You’re a colleague, why don’t you sit down”. Such was his love for younger students like me.

His brilliance while in performance with Ustad Vilayat Khan Sahab, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahab, Pt Birju Maharaj Ji, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma Ji, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia Ji, Ustad Rais Khan Sahab gave us many memorable moments.

Zakir Sahab was, and always will be, a matchless phenomenon. My deepest respect at his lotus feet and my heartfelt prayers for his beautiful family.