The AllaRakha Foundation and the Family announces the demise of Mrs Bavi Begum, widow of Tabla Legend Ustad AllaRakha and mother of Zakir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi, Fazal Qureshi, and Khurshid Aulia on the 24th of October 2009 in Mumbai, India. The funeral took place in Mumbai on the 28th of Oct, 09. She is survived by one daughter, three sons and 11 grandchildren. The Chehlum was held on the 2nd of December 2009 in Mumbai.

 

Bavi Begum was known as Ammaji to all whose lives she touched — and there were many. “Despite coming from a very simple background, she was extremely farsighted and gave her children the best, most importantly, the self-confidence to be independent. While her husband Ustad Alla Rakha Khan travelled for concerts, it was Ammaji who held fort with the children (three sons — Zakir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi, Fazal Qureshi, and a daughter — Khurshid Aulia). Her generosity was extended even to students who came to study with Abbaji and later with Zakir. She leaves behind a large extended family, much beyond her own,” says a close associate of Ammaji.