Even before Zakir entered school, he knew how to play the tabla. Thanks to his father, Alla Rakha, who was a table-player and taught Zakir the art of playing the instrument. Zakir started playing the tabla at the age of three and performed his first show at the age of seven. His father followed a strict training schedule for him; he had to practice for hours to become a maestro.
As a twelve-year-old boy, he was already doing music shows in Indian classical music with the who's-who of the industry. But it was his move to America in 1970 that transformed him from a prodigy into a global phenomenon. Collaborating with guitarist John McLaughlin and guitarist-composer John Handy, Zakir created a new musical language that bridged East and West.
The turning point in his mass appeal came unexpectedly in the 1980s. When Brooke Bond was looking to reinvent their Taj Mahal Tea brand, they wanted someone who embodied perfection. The advertising team found their answer in Zakir's tabla. Flying him from San Francisco to Agra, they created what would become advertising history. Shot against the majestic Taj Mahal, Zakir's curly hair dancing to his own rhythm, that spontaneous smile lighting up the screen - it wasn't just an advertisement. His iconic response, "Arre huzoor, wah Taj boliye!" to the appreciative "Wah Ustad, wah!" became a phrase that would echo across India for decades. The campaign did something unprecedented - it made classical music relatable to the masses. Brooke Bond came to known as the "Zakir Hussain Wah Taj' moment.
His achievements span continents and genres. From receiving the Padma Shri at 37 to the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and finally the Padma Vibhushan in 2014, Zakir Hussain's genius earned India's highest civilian honors. The Grammy Award in 1992 for Planet Drum and the National Heritage Fellowship in 1999 were testaments to his global impact. But perhaps his greatest achievement was making the tabla speak a universal language. Whether performing at prestigious concert halls, collaborating with international artists, or teaching at his father's school, Zakir maintained that childlike enthusiasm that first drew him to the tabla.
His recent performances showed no sign of slowing down. Even in his seventies, those fingers moved with the same agility that amazed audiences decades ago. His last concert, just weeks before his passing, had the same magic that characterized his entire career - the ability to make everyone in the room feel like they were part of something extraordinary.
Today, as we bid farewell to the maestro, we remember not just the musician but the man who made classical Indian music accessible to generations. The boy who practiced before dawn became the legend who could make tabla speak poetry, who could bridge classical and popular, who could make an entire nation say "Wah!" in genuine appreciation.
Zakir Hussain's passing away, marks the end of an era, but his rhythms will continue to echo in concert halls, music schools, and yes, even in tea commercials that made a nation fall in love with both tabla and tradition.
Wah Ustad, wah! You taught us that music has no boundaries, only bridges. Your rhythms will forever beat in India's heart.
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