It’s very heartbreaking and sad news that Indian table player, Zakir Hussain died on December 13, 2024, at the age of 73 due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in San Francisco, California in the United States. Zakir Husain is also known as Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi and one of the best table players in the world. Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai who was a popular table player, film actor, composer, music producer, and percussionist, and also popular for bringing classical music across the world. He received four Grammy Awards including three awards in the year 2024 and was also the eldest son of Alla Rakha who also was a popular table player.

Zakir Husain also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya in the year 2018 by the Indian Government. He was awarded the highest award for traditional musicians and artists, the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in the United States. Zakir Hussain was considered or described as the best table player by the popular American newspaper, New York Times, and The Guardian.  

In their personal life, Zakir Hussain married Antonia Minnecola, a teacher and kathak dancer, and had two daughters, Isabella Qureshi and Anisa Qureshi. Isabella Qureshi is currently studying dance in Manhattan, and Anisa Qureshi has done or graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States and is also a filmmaker. Antonia Minnecola was a Kathak dancer, teacher, and also the manager of her husband Zakir Hussain.

Zakir Hussain also received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in the year 1988, Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award of India in the year 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of India, in the year 2023. He was also honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco, Jazz Center.

RIP Zakir Hussain Sir