Hussain’s manager, Nirmala Bachani, disclosed that the artist has been facing blood pressure complications. “We request everyone’s prayers and positive thoughts during this difficult period,” she stated.
On Sunday night, reports of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain’s death spread rapidly on social media, triggering an outpouring of condolence messages from politicians, celebrities, and fans globally. However, these claims were quickly refuted by his nephew, Ameer Aulia, who called for an end to the misinformation.
“My uncle Zakir Hussain is alive,” Aulia stated on an unverified X account. “We request the media to stop spreading false reports. He is in critical condition, and we ask his fans worldwide to pray for his recovery.”
The 73-year-old musician, who was admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital due to heart-related issues, remains in critical condition. Journalist Parvaiz Alam confirmed that the family had not issued any statement regarding his death. “I checked with his brother-in-law in London at 1640 GMT on 15 December. The family has not confirmed the news of his passing,” Alam posted on X.
Hussain’s manager, Nirmala Bachani, shared that the artist had been struggling with blood pressure issues. “We request everyone’s well-wishes and prayers during this difficult time,” she said.
Despite the clarification, social media was flooded with tributes, including messages from Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also tweeted, “The world has lost a true musical genius. Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music will forever be cherished,” before later deleting the post.
Zakir Hussain, the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha, is celebrated as one of the greatest percussionists in history. His pioneering 1973 collaboration with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist Vikku Vinayakram blended Indian classical music with jazz, transforming global music.
A five-time Grammy winner, Hussain took home three awards at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
