Five-time Grammy Award-winning world-renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain died on Saturday in America at the age of 73. Veteran poet and singer Talat Aziz was very close to him. Talat Aziz talked about Zakir Hussain in a special conversation with Dainik Global News Daily. Here are the highlights..
Will Zakir Hussain's mortal remains be brought to India or will his last rites be held in America only?
His wife is there. Although she is of Italian origin, she lives in America. His wish was that Zakir Hussain Saheb's last rites should be performed there. He has two daughters, but they are not from the music field.
When did you meet Zakir Hussain Sahab recently?
We met 6 months ago during a program. His health was not good at that time. He had come wearing a mask and had also become thin. When I asked, he said, 'Brother, I have to take care, due to Covid I have not recovered completely yet.
He was having heart problem since two years. Was in ICU for just two weeks. Had problem in lungs. He used to come to India every year in October and stayed there till March.
You often participated in programs with Zakir Hussain Sahab, any special memories related to him that you would like to share?
When we used to go to Banaras together in the 80s. I would like to share a memory from there. One day we had a program in BHU. Pandit Kishan Maharaj ji was sitting in that program. He had said that Banaras is a city of very talented people. There are amazing people there who listen to music. Today you really did amazing.
Where Pandit Ravi Shankar Sahab and Allah Rakha Khan Sahab took Indian music, Zakir Bhai took it further on the world stage.
Some special memories during your stay in America?
Went on America tour in 2002. Zakir Saheb came to meet him and took him to his home. Went with his wife to an Italian restaurant, where we had dinner. From there he himself came to drop me to my hotel in his car.
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