Zakir denies plans to quit tabla

Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain has denied reports that he was planning to quit playing the tabla and say goodbye to the world of classical music.

In a statement from California, Hussain referred to a news item which spoke of his considering such a step because of pain in his fingers and his disappointment over the state of affairs in the modern music world in India and said the item quotes "individuals who really had no say in my affairs."

"I would like to state that this item is a false and baseless rumour, and I have no no idea how this began. I will be arriving in India very, very soon and will call a press conference to clear this matter in detail," he said.

PTI