stad Zakir Hussain may have visited Pakistan many times, but I saw and heard him perform in person for the first time when he played alongside Adnan Sami Khan in Lahore.

It is unclear who had arranged the concert or why one of the greatest tabla players was paired with Adnan Sami Khan on the keyboard. The latter is not considered among the finest Pakistani musicians. This pairing seemed to highlight how connections and contacts can bring even the most accomplished artists to a performance.

The next morning, I went to interview Zakir Hussain. I had hoped to speak with him the same day as the concert, but he politely excused himself, explaining that he was busy with a prior commitment and would only be available the following morning.

When I finally met him for the interview, his youthful appearance belied his age – he must have been in his forties at the time. He was an unassuming person, full of humility. Midway through our conversation, there was a knock on the hotel room door, and in walked a man in his sixties. Zakir Hussain immediately stood up, touched the man’s feet to show respect, and then embraced him. It turned out the visitor was his uncle.

During their conversation, it became clear that Zakir Hussain had intended to visit his uncle and family after the concert but had been unable to do so. His uncle lived in a neighbourhood near Multan Road, where Lahore’s film studios once stood. Many actors, musicians and other film industry workers had resided in the area. Over time, these communities became absorbed into the sprawling Iqbal Town, which now dominates the vicinity.

The extended family of Zakir Hussain lived – or still lives – in Lahore. Hailing from Shakargarh, Allah Rakha, a promising young tabla player, became the shagird (disciple) of Mian Qadir Buksh. Alongside other shagirds such as Ustad Shaukat Hussain and Altaf Hussain Tafo, he elevated the Punjab baaj of tabla playing to new heights.

Ustad Allah Rakha later moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), where he briefly attempted a career as a film composer under the name AR Qureshi. However, his efforts in film music did not achieve much success. This ultimately proved a boon for the tabla. He focused entirely on the instrument, gaining fame and international recognition when he collaborated with Ravi Shankar and began performing in the West.

Allah Rakha, Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan were among the first Indian classical musicians to make a significant impact in the West, receiving high praise from international media. Their success abroad drew the attention of audiences in India, where they were eventually embraced by the middle classes and gained widespread recognition.

Allah Rakha was married and had a daughter, Roohi Bano. However, the couple later separated or divorced. He re-married and had several more children. Zakir Hussain and Roohi Bano were thus step-siblings. Another stage actress, Roohani Bano, was also related to them.

Ustad Allah Rakha’s outward-looking approach was fully absorbed by Zakir Hussain, who, after mastering classical tabla playing, sought to innovate and incorporate various rhythmic sounds into the repertoire of the tabla. Staying true to his ta’leem (training), he used his foundational knowledge to expand rhythmic patterns, drawing inspiration from diverse musical traditions around the world.

Thanks to his father’s international exposure, Zakir Hussain’s talent and education did not have to wait for an opportunity – it was already present. His creative flamboyance quickly began to capitalise on this foundation. Without restricting himself to traditional education and techniques, he ventured beyond, infusing his performances with the essence of traditional tabla playing while expanding upon it with varied rhythmic patterns and styles. Before long, he was counted among the leading percussionists of his age.

Zakir Hussain received numerous prestigious awards during his illustrious career. These included the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He also received the Indo-American Award in 1990 for his outstanding cultural contributions to relations between the United States and India, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, and seven Grammy Award nominations, with four wins, including three in 2024.

The writer is a culture critic based in Lahore