Back to resources

Zakir Hussain – The Tabla Maestro

Others | Feb 6, 1981

About five years ago, Zakir Hussain, like all other talented tabla players, was known merely as an accompanist. Being the son of a world famous artiste, Ustad Alla Rakha, he had far more exposure than those with less exalted family connections, but he did not draw crowds for himself, as he does today.

This star status, this cult that has been built around Hussain, really started, predictably enough, with news of his experimentation with jazz and classical musicians abroad. “Suddenly, when ‘Shakti’, our musical trio, with L. Shankar, violinist, and John Mclaughlin, and myself, became a success in the States, I found, on my return to India that year, that I was something of a celebrity,” Hussain admits.

View PDF

More like this

Others

Our society has become so unequal. The wealthy need to be taxed more, says Rohini Nilekani

Rohini Nilekani is a bit nervous that people might have “an overdose of the Nilekanis” as she and her husband Nandan have been in the news all week for having signed the Giving Pledge, committing half their wealth — about $1.7bn — to philanthropy. She believes philanthropy isn’t just about giving but is also a […]
Nov 26, 2017 | Interview

Others

Even Expediency Should Not Violate Decency

Ramakrishna Hegde talks about Janata dissensions, the governance of Karnataka, his own political views and his health. By Rohini Nilekani and Vir Sanghvi.
Aug 1, 1984 | Article

Others

Family matters

Will the great Indian family become a myth or an extinct entity? The Indian family system has upheld Indian culture. But now, the value system has changed and with it the structure and nature of the family too. The book ‘The Great Indian Families: New Roles, Old responsibilities’ by Gitanjali Prasad dwells upon these emerging […]
Aug 17, 2006 | Article

Others

The Loan Messiah - Janardhana Poojari

Despite the barrage of criticism from within and without the party, Union minister of state for finance Janardhan Poojary’s loan melas continue to win him immense popularity.
Nov 14, 1987 | Personality