Ustad Zakir Hussain admitted to ICU in San Francisco

Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain performs throughout a live performance. File.
| Photograph Credit score: Sandeep Saxena

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has been admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital after experiencing coronary heart associated issues, his pal and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia informed PTI on Sunday (December 15, 2024).

The 73-year-old U.S.-based musician, who has taken the tabla to the worldwide stage, had been having blood stress points, added Hussain’s supervisor Nirmala Bachani. “He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a coronary heart associated downside for the final two weeks,” Ms. Bachani mentioned.

The information of Hussain’s ailing well being, nevertheless, led to a flurry of condolences pouring in as unconfirmed experiences of his demise flooded the web. The Union Ministry of Data and Broadcasting posted a condolence message on X, nevertheless it was later deleted.

Hussain’s publicist confirmed to PTI that the percussionist is being handled on the San Francisco hospital and “has not handed”.

Hussain’s sister Khursheed informed PTI that her brother is “very very essential” however is “very a lot respiratory in the intervening time”.

“My brother is deeply in poor health right now. We’re asking for all his followers round India and all over the world to hope for him, to hope for his well being. However as India’s biggest ever exports, don’t end him off simply but,” she mentioned.

“I simply need to request all of the media to not comply with mistaken details about Zakir’s passing. He’s very a lot respiratory in the intervening time. He’s very very essential, however he’s nonetheless with us. He has not but gone. So, I’ll request (the media) to not unfold this hearsay by writing or saying that he has handed away. I really feel so dangerous watching all this info on Fb which could be very mistaken,” she added.

The eldest son of legendary tabla participant Allah Rakha, Hussain has adopted within the footsteps of his father, turning into a marquee identify in India and the world over. Hussain has acquired 5 Grammy Awards in his profession, together with three on the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this yr.

In his profession spanning six a long time, the musician has labored with a number of famend worldwide and Indian artistes, but it surely was his 1973 musical mission with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that introduced collectively Indian classical and components of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown. 

Additionally learn: Zakir Hussain: ‘The scholar should encourage the instructor to show’

The percussionist, one among India’s most celebrated classical musicians, acquired the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

(With PTI inputs)