Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain | 17 Dec 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Recently, Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, passed away due to complications from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). 

What are Key Points about Zakir Hussain? 

• Early Life: Zakir Hussain, born on 9th March 1951, was the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha. 
  • He began his tabla training at the age of seven. 
• Contributions: His collaboration with Western musicians, especially the 1973 project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram, brought Indian classical music to the global stage. 
• Awards: He won four Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024. He also received Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023). 

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)? 

• About: IPF is a chronic lung disease which causes the air sacs in the lungs to become scarred and fibrous, disrupting their ability to exchange oxygen efficiently. 
  • The tissues around alveoli in the lungs become thick and stiff. 
    • Alveoli are small air sacs at the end of bronchioles that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the bloodstream. 
• Cause: The exact cause of IPF is unknown, hence the term "idiopathic" which means unexplained.  
• Risk Factors: IPF is more common in males and in current or former smokers. It most commonly affects adults over the age of 50. 
  • Other risk factors include genetic factors, exposures such as cigarette smoking, and viral infections. 

Tabla 

• About: The Tabla is a pair of vertical drums used in Hindustani classical music, consisting of two vertical drums: the Tabla (right) and the Bayan or Dagga (left). 
  • Tabla is a percussion instrument called awanad/avanaddha vadya. 
  • Amir Khusrau is believed to have invented Tabla. 
• Making of Tabla: The Tabla has a wooden body covered with animal skin.  
  • The center of the Tabla's skin is covered with syahi paste, which helps in tuning the drum.  
  • The Bayan has a clay or metal body and is also covered with animal skin with syahi paste. 
• Musical Role: The Tabla is primarily used as an accompaniment to vocal and instrumental Hindustani music as well as various dance forms in northern India. 
• Prominent Musicians: Famous tabla players include Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, his son Zakir Hussain, Shafat Ahmed, and Samta Prasad.