In this tribute penned for The Polity, Anuradha Pal, a globally celebrated Tabla exponent, reflects her deep admiration for and gratitude to Ustad Zakir Hussain. Recounting their journey together from her childhood, Anuradha Pal shares personal memories of learning under his guidance, including her first encounter with the Tabla and the transformative lessons in musical mastery, resilience, and adaptability that Zakir Hussain imparted. Through vivid anecdotes, she highlights his unparalleled skill, innovative fusion work, and his significant influence on world music. Terming the Ustad as the ‘God of Tabla,’ Pal revers him not only as a teacher and a fatherly figure but also appeals for his recognition with the Bharat Ratna, to honour his immense contribution to world music and Indian culture.
Images courtesy: Personal collections of Anuradha Pal, Benjy Wertheimer
When I first met my Guru, Ustad Zakir Hussain (Zakir bhai as I fondly called him), I was just five years old. My family had organized a musical programme of Pandit Jasraj and Ustad Zakir Hussain to honour the memory of my maternal grandmother, Sarojben Vyas. Backstage, I wandered into the green room, captivated by the presence of a Tabla. Unable to resist, I began playing it.
Zakir bhai entered the room, curious about who was playing his instrument. He asked, “Aapko bajana hai?” (Do you want to play it?) With innocent determination, I said yes. Smiling, he sat me on his lap, placed my tiny hands on the Tabla, and showed me how to play. Little did I know that this moment would forever change my life. Ustad Zakir Hussain became the first to place my hands on the Tabla, setting me on a path of musical devotion and excellence.
Hearing his performance that day blew my mind out, and I decided to learn Tabla along with classical Vocals, which I was already learning. My formal training continued with both Abbaji (Ustad Alla Rakha) and Zakir bhai, and I became their ‘ganda-bandhan’ disciple.
This bond became a commitment for life. I made it a point to travel to the USA regularly, to learn from him and attend his concerts in India. I took his blessings on Guru Poornima 2024 like I did every time he was in India and was regularly in touch with him.
A sacred bond and an unforgettable night of music
Memories of a moment that define my soul and artistry - my Ganda Bandhan ceremony, a sacred milestone, blessed by the luminous presence of Abbaji and Zakir bhai, who tied the sacred thread on my hands after I performed solo.
This unforgettable day at my parents’ home was graced by the legendary M.F. Husain, Ammaji, my dear friends Kala Ramnath, Taufiq Qureshi, Nitin Shankar, Yogesh Samsi, and many well-wishers.
A moment that etched itself in history unfolded later when Zakir bhai and Vikku Vinayakram ji mesmerized us with a scintillating jugalbandi, right on the stage set at my home. That magical night culminated in Zakir bhai receiving the incredible news of his Padma Shri, announced by none other than Pandit Ravi Shankar ji at the Indian Music Group’s JanFest.
A lesson in adaptability: My baptism by fire at 15
My first performance with Zakir bhai at the age of 15 holds a very special place in my heart for the incredible learnings I received.
I was accompanying him on one of his travels, and the night before the performance, he dropped a bombshell: I would be performing with a Kathak dancer the next day in his place! He locked me in a room with the dancer and we spent the entire night practising, trying to “save our skin,” and rise to the challenge.
We continued practising through the day. Just after we came out to freshen up before our performance, Zakir bhai surprised us. Not the dancer, but I would be performing with him instead, he announced. Further, he declared that I must perform with his solo. Surprised and hesitant, I asked him which Taal he intended to present; he smiled and asked my age. “Fifteen,” I replied promptly.
He immediately announced that he would play 15-matra Pancham Sawari Taal. I begged him to play Teentaal of 16 beats, as I had never learnt or even heard Pancham Sawari Taal, a complex and rare rhythm cycle! But he insisted, “Anuradha, God has blessed you and you will yourself figure out how to play the complex calculation of 3.75 x 4 = 15 beats, with any training.”
That incredible lesson went far beyond Tabla. It was about adaptability, thinking on my feet, and learning to handle any situation – no matter how stressful or unexpected – with grace and confidence.
Lessons beyond music
I vividly remember accompanying him to late-night concerts. After dinner, we would sit together, and he would ask me for an analysis of his performance. I kept pleading that I was in no position to “comment” or “judge” such a great master.
Actually, this was his style of teaching – ensuring I was paying attention to every detail of what I was listening to and staying attuned to every nuance. Then, he would recite a composition just once while I was pressing his legs and expect it to be ready and perfected by the next morning. This ensured that I stayed awake and practised all night, played it for him in the morning and only then was allowed to go back to my home.
In fact, he would insist that I send him the recordings of all the concerts I played, be it of my Tabla solo or accompaniment. He would listen to them and call me to give me honest feedback and a dressing down all the areas of improvement. This helped me greatly to learn, stay rooted, humble and seek to understand my own art and what I was trying to say.
He knew that as a girl in a male-dominated field, not coming from a musician family, it would be very tough for me. He respected the fact that I did not want to copy him. Hence through his music and interactions, he opened my mind to a thousand possibilities.
This inspired me to create my own offerings like ‘Tabla Jugalbandi’ ‘Stree Shakti’, and ‘Ramayan on Tabla’ as well as empowered me to accompany all the great Indian and international musicians in festivals across the world. The fact that my Guru was keeping tabs on my progress, fueled me to work harder!
Mastering balance and breaking boundaries
Another cherished memory is when he taught me the importance of balance between the left and right hand on the Tabla. He asked me to practice the simple Theka of Teen Taal for a couple of hours and nothing else until he returned. I practiced diligently all day, but he did not return.
I returned to my home at night, only to go back to his house the next day. Again, I played all day but he did not return. Finally, on the third day, he appeared and asked quizzingly: “Are you still practising this?” I nodded and he smiled and said, “Good. Let’s have lunch together, and then I’ll see what you’ve practised.”
His compliment in 2019, “Hats off to Anuradha Pal for being one of the earliest ones to break out, without worrying about the social repercussions,” remains one of the greatest acknowledgements I have ever received. It inspires me to push boundaries and work harder every day, carrying forward the legacy of my legendary Gurus.
When I met him last on 11 August 2024, he was full of praise for my musical innovations like ‘Tabla Jugalbandi’ and ‘Ramayan on Tabla,’ appreciated my thinking out of the box, and my efforts to increase worldwide respect for the Tabla. I am grateful to God and my revered Gurus for these infinite blessings.
Zakir Hussain: The virtuoso who redefined rhythm
My Guru, Ustad Zakir Hussain, is considered one of the world’s greatest Tabla maestros and is celebrated for his exceptional technical mastery and groundbreaking contributions to Indian classical music and beyond. His virtuosity, innovation, and ability to fuse Indian rhythms with global genres made him a pioneer in the field of percussion.
The Ustad is revered around the world for his sheer virtuosity and unparalleled technical mastery of the Tabla. With a deep understanding of the complexities of Indian rhythm, he could execute intricate patterns with remarkable speed, jaw-dropping mastery and live wire performances.
Zakir bhai was an institution of Tabla and percussion, and a true genius who straddled easily across diverse musical genres be it - Hindustani, Carnatic, Jazz, Western music, Latin, African to pop music.
His virtuosity shone through in his ability to play extremely complex rhythmic patterns in a way that was both fluid and dynamic. One of his most remarkable skills is the ability to perform intricate Tihais (rhythmic repetitions), Layakari (rhythmic variations) and complex Taals (rhythmic cycles), all while maintaining perfect timing and control.
He could also perform complex polyrhythmic structures (multiple rhythms layered on top of each other) and Jaatis with flawless clarity, a feat that requires an extraordinary level of concentration and dexterity – as was evident in his many collaborations with Carnatic (South Indian Classical) musicians.
He is known for playing at blistering speeds without losing the clarity of sound or rhythm. His finger dexterity, beautiful balance and precision in producing distinct tonal qualities from Tabla’s two heads – dayan (the higher-pitched right drum) and bayan (the lower-pitched left drum) – are unmatched.
In addition to his percussive virtuosity, Zakir bhai’s exceptional improvisational skills to spontaneously craft intricate compositions on the Tabla and Baya, showcased his deep musical knowledge, creativity and unmatched ability. As a result, every performance is unique and captivating and is a testament to his fluidity and technical brilliance.
A global ambassador of rhythmic fusion
Ustad Zakir Hussain’s influence extends far beyond traditional Indian classical music. He has played a key role in the fusion of Indian rhythms with global music genres, introducing the Tabla to new audiences worldwide. The formation of the Shakti band in the 1970s with legendary musicians like John McLaughlin (guitar), L. Shankar (violin) and Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram (Ghatam) marked a turning point.
Many consider this group to be the very FIRST World Music group.
Further, collaborations with George Harrison, Mickey Hart (of Grateful Dead), Béla Fleck, and Edgar Meyer have further cemented Zakir bhai’s role in global fusion. His work in this domain not only highlights his technical mastery but also his ability to adapt complex Indian rhythmic systems into diverse musical frameworks.
His fusion work demonstrates his exceptional ability to synthesize and experiment while retaining the essence of Indian rhythmic tradition. Whether in jazz improvisations or world music jams, Zakir bhai has shown that the Tabla is not confined to its classical roots but can evolve in response to a variety of musical contexts.
His impact as a cultural ambassador has been profound.
A guru, guide, and the God of Tabla
Zakir bhai was the inspirational powerhouse behind several of my innovative creations – Stree Shakti (India’s first all-girl band), Ramayan on Tabla and Tabla Jugalbandi. In fact, my fusion albums, Get Recharged and Recharge Plus are all dedicated to him, because of the way he made percussion an additional voice.
His yearly Tabla retreats in the USA were a goldmine of knowledge. In just one week, he would impart so much wisdom that it would take an entire year to assimilate and practice what he had taught.
For me, Zakir bhai was a great Guru, father figure, elder brother and friend all rolled into one. I cherished tying the Rakhi to him every year. I played cricket with him and learnt to drive from him. He had an incredible sense of humour, a treasure trove of anecdotes and an innate ability to make learning joyful.
Zakir bhai’s teaching style was a masterclass in life itself. He gave me the gift of resilience, of never being unprepared, and of approaching every moment with the mindset of a performer. He was, without a doubt, my Santa Claus.
I have learnt so much from him – about Tabla – the science of sound, musical artistry and aesthetics, chintan manan about Taal, chhand, badhat, the art of performance, collaborations with classical, fusion and everything that he did most flawlessly and seamlessly.
His study of music and life was so intense, and so deep that I think he was a Zen master who said a lot in such few words. What he achieved and contributed through his music was magical, spontaneous yet so perfect, so musically complete, so aesthetically and spiritually uplifting.
Every time you went to his concert, you knew you could expect a fresh perspective on a traditional composition!
Even if he played fusion or hip-hop, he propagated traditional, Indian classical music with reverence and so much grace and beauty that was unbelievable. His incredible musical brilliance, respect and affection that he gave to his co-musicians, superb stage presence and charming interactions with wit and humour, make him unparalleled!
He was the God of Tabla who had played for many lifetimes earlier, to achieve the impossible in this life. I feel personally so blessed and grateful, to have been mentored by this great master and Abbaji.
A heartfelt tribute to an immortal legend
This is my tribute to Zakir bhai — a Master, a guide, and a soul so deeply intertwined with the essence of rhythm and divinity. The world feels quieter without him, yet his music, laughter and blessings echo within me forever.
This is such a huge personal loss for me, leaving a void that nothing can fill. I carry his teachings with me in every performance and every moment of life. Zakir bhai, his music and persona are immortal and his legacy will remain a beacon of light for countless musicians and music lovers around the world.
I conclude this tribute by appealing to the Indian Government to honour him with the Bharat Ratna for his monumental contributions to World music and Indian music and, Indian culture in particular.
