‘He’s Alive, Pray For His Health’: Zakir Hussain’s Nephew Rejects Misinformation On His Death

‘He’s Alive, Pray For His Health’: Zakir Hussain’s Nephew Rejects Misinformation On His Death


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Widely considered as one of India’s most celebrated musicians, news of Zakir Hussain’s demise shocked people across India and the world.

‘He’s Alive, Pray For His Health’: Zakir Hussain’s Nephew Rejects Misinformation On His Death

Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain is currently hospitalised in critical condition in the US. (PTI/File)

As reports of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain flooded social media on Sunday night, sparking a wave of condolences and tributes from politicians, celebrities and millions of fans worldwide, these claims were denied by Hussain’s nephew Ameer Aulia, who called for an end to this misinformation.

“I am Zakir Hussain’s nephew and he has not passed away. We ask for prayers for my Uncle’s health. Can you please remove this misinformation. He is in a serious condition and we ask for all his fans around the world to pray for his health,” said Aulia in a post on his unverified X handle.

Hussain’s sister Khursheed also confirmed that he was still alive. She told news agency PTI that her brother is “very very critical” but is “very much breathing at the moment”.

“My brother is deeply ill at this time. We are asking for all his fans around India and around the world to pray for him, to pray for his health. But as India’s greatest ever exports, do not finish him off just yet,” she said. “I feel so bad watching all this information on Facebook which is very wrong.”

What Happened To Zakir Hussain?

Zakir Hussain, 73, has been admitted to ICU after experiencing heart-related and blood pressure issues, according to his friend Rakesh Chaurasia. “He is unwell and admitted in the ICU right now. We all are worried about the situation,” Chaurasia told PTI.

His manager Nirmala Bachani also confirmed the same. “He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a heart-related problem for the last two weeks,” Bachani said.

“Ustad Zakir Hussain, Tabla player, percussionist, composer, former actor, and the son of legendary Tabla player, Ustad Allah Rakha is not well. He’s being treated for serious ailments in a San Francisco hospital, USA, informed his brother-in-law, Ayub Aulia,” said journalist Pervaiz Alam on X.

However, reports of his death spread like wildfire on social media, leading to an outpouring of grief and condolences from politicians like Yogi Adityanath, Rahul Gandhi and Himanta Biswa Sarma, celebrities and millions of Hussain’s fans. Taking to X, Pervaiz Alam said, “I checked the latest with his brother in law in London at 1640 GMT on 15 December. The family has not confirmed the news of his death as reported by a few news outlets.”

Who Is Zakir Hussain?

The son of legendary tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain started playing the instrument from a young age and his prowess has been recognised by legendary figures in the far ends of the musical world. His collaborations span diverse genres and artists, including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, George Harrison, John McLaughlin, and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.

He became one of the youngest recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He earned his first Grammy award in 2009. He also received the Indo-American Award in 1990 for his outstanding cultural contribution to the relationship between the United States and India.

The tabla maestro scripted history at the 66th Grammy Awards this year as he became the first Indian to win three Grammy awards in a single event. Zakir Hussain won Grammys for Best Global Music Performance for the song “Pashto”, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Global Music Album.

News india ‘He’s Alive, Pray For His Health’: Zakir Hussain’s Nephew Rejects Misinformation On His Death





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