My father told me not to try to be the best, it is not possible to attain perfection in music: Ustad Zakir Hussain

Paying homage to his legendary father

Ustad Allah Rakha

on his 100th birth anniversary year, Ustad Zakir Hussain has been touring various cities for performances. As part of one such performance, he was in Ahmedabad when he admitted that his “father’s blessings continue” to guide him even today and whenever he performs his compositions, “it’s an ‘out of the world’ experience of unifying him with God himself.” Even after carving a niche for himself in the world of classical music, Hussain remains true to his father’s priceless advice of “always being open to learning new things.” Excerpts from a chat:
As someone who has been performing for nearly four decades, how do you keep reinventing yourself musically?
Music is an ocean and it is impossible to conquer it. My father gave me three very important lessons that I continue to follow. First, never stop learning new things, remain a student all your life and it will keep your art fresh.
He also told me to never try to be the best, because one can’t be the best. You might think that you performed well, but if you go back and watch the same performance, you will find flaws in it. Only the Almighty can be perfect. Lekin apne craft ko perfect karne ki koshish chalu rehani chahiye, as the more you practice, the better you become. Music, taal or rhythm are God’s gifts and we should always be thankful for that. Even today, I remember my gurus and the Almighty before getting on to the stage. These keep me grounded.
You’ve said earlier that you interact with your tabla while you perform. How will you define this connection?
My father was really ill when I was born. He was desperate to pass on his musical knowledge to me in whatever way possible. So, he would talk about music, his concerts, rhythm and everything about tabla to my mother. And I would be lying in my mother’s lap unconsciously absorbing it all. That’s when my musical journey began. Music has been ingrained in my blood and whenever I perform, it gives me a certain spiritual energy that keeps me going. This connect is beyond physical.