Page 17 - Synergy 17-18

“Don’t become a Xerox copy…become your own

hard copy”

he expression from quintessentially one of the
greatest and finest tabla players in the world
Tleft everyone in a state of awe and admiration.
The message itself clearly gave an answer as why
Ustad Zakir Hussain is regarded as the poster boy of
Indian classical music. The eloquence and gratitude
with which he spoke caught the attention of the
corner most students seated in the auditorium. The
jam packed auditorium of Guru Nanak College got to
witness the sheer class of the master.
The mood in the entire college was jovial and
excited on the morning of 15th December, 2017 as
the footsteps of Ustad Zakir Hussain were about to
fall in the college premises. There was a sense of
eagerness as everyone was desperate to listen to
those melodious beats and rhythms resonating from
his tabla. The seats had been occupied way before the

scheduled commencement of the program as nobody
wanted to rue the lost opportunity later.
The dream finally came true when the tabla maestro
stepped inside the auditorium greeted by a standing
ovation and huge round of applause by the audience
gathered. It was a surreal feeling to have the Padma
Bhushan, Padma Shree, Kalidasasamman and the
recipient of dozens of such awards to be standing live
in front of oureyes. Besides his apt and mastery in tabla
field, it was enriching to see Zakir Hussain ji sharing
with the students his journey of life, his perspectives
about it and how right from an early age he devoted
his time towards the nuances of learning tabla without
compromising on his regular curriculum. He asked the
students to enjoy the journey of life while achieving
one’s goals and to always push oneself to strive for
better and better.
After a while he demonstrated a few glimpses of his
greatness playing various tunes and rhythms which
received huge cheers from everyone. The finesse with
which he played tabla;at times non-stop for a couple
of minutes without a single pause got everyone out of
their seats mesmerized and gasping for breath.
The program concluded with Zakir Hussain ji obliging
for photograph with students and teachers. It was once
in a life time experience that the students will keep
reminiscing throughout their life time.

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