Kathmandu, December 16
World-renowned Indian tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain has passed away at the age of 73. The Grammy-winning artist succumbed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on Monday morning, his family confirmed.
Hussain had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in San Francisco, USA, for the past two weeks. His condition deteriorated, and he was moved to the ICU, where he breathed his last, according to family sources.
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Hussain was a celebrated figure in Indian classical music. Over his illustrious career, he was honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
Hussain was a four-time Grammy Award winner. In 2009, he won his first Grammy for The Global Drum Project, which was recognised as the Best Contemporary World Music Album. In 2024, he added three more Grammys to his name: Best Global Music Performance for Pashto, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for As We Speak, and Best Global Music Album for This Moment.
His demise has left a void in the music world, with tributes pouring in from Indian political leaders and Bollywood celebrities mourning the loss of the legendary musician.
