Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is an Indian classical singer of the dhrupad genre and the son of dhrupad singer Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar. Since the death of his father and later, his uncle, Wasifuddin has been singing solo. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010. Wasifuddin DagarWasifuddin Dagar today considered as the maestro of Dhrupad singers in India. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar has represented the 20th generation of dhrupad singers of the Dagar Family. He was born on the 15th April in the year 1969 at New Delhi. He was born to Ustad. N. Faiyazuddin Dagar. From paternal side and from maternal side he represents maestros like Uatad Nasiruddin Dagar and Ustad Hussainuddin Dagar.
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is the son of the late Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar, and the nephew of the late Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, the well-known junior Dagar brothers and therefore a descendant of the legendary Swami Haridas Dagar, Tansen`s teacher.
Early Life of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar was born to a family where a tradition was prevalent that `one had to imbibe knowledge from all the elders, irrespective of direct or indirect lineage`. Through passing of knowledge the nuances of Dagarvani heritage has been transmitting. From the tender age of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, he has been learning from Padma Bhushan, Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar. Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar has been his Chacha Saheb, his grandfather`s younger brother. It was Chacha Saheb who after acknowledging Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar`s talent inspired him to assist him during his music sessions and recordings. Ustad. N. Aminuddin Dagar, the real elder brother of his father and uncle also played significant role in nurturing Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar`s talent.
The maestro received most of training directly under the tutelage of his father, and younger uncle, the junior Dagars, since he was five years old. Additionally he has had opportunity to receive instructions from his grand uncle, Ustad A. Rahimuddin Dagar, his elder uncle, Ustad Aminuddin Dagar (one of the two the elder Dagar brothers), as well as some of his cousin uncles, Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar and Ustad H. Sayeeduddin Dagar, all of whom are great exponents of Dhrupad singing.
Between 1989 and 1994, he was groomed by his uncle, Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar, with whom he used to sing jugalbandis (duets).
Ustad Z. Mohiuddin Dagar, his cousin-uncle presented him with a tanpura after his introductory public concert. An elder has reckoned this honour as a substantial recognition. Still today he has been receiving training under the expert guidance of Ustad R. Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Z. Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad. H. Sayeeduddin Dagar. This child prodigy since his five years has undergoing traditional systematic training under Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar and his father Ustad. N. Faiyazuddin Dagar. They are together far famed as the Dagar Brothers.
Musical Life of Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal has been presented in a Guru - Shishya Festival by the Dagar Brothers. Since then Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar journey in the musical realm began. After the death of his father Ustad. N. Faiyazuddin Dagar in the year 1989, he started accompanying his uncle and guru Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar at the exhibition. He with his uncle started performing the jugalbandi and it received a rave acclamation through out. The Dagar family is specialized in the jugalbandi and they have been executing this by generations. Partnership between Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar and Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar is known as Dagar Duo. In an extensive manner they have been executing in India and countries like Japan, Europe and other South-East Asian countries outside India. In the year 1992, as recognition to the expertise of Dagar duo, the French Television on their life and music made a film, named `Dagarvani`. They have also bagged the honour of being cutting CDs with major recording labels in Switzerland in the year 1989, India in the year1991, and America in the year 1994.
Today Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar`s execution has been regarded as a unparallel mix of his training, his voice quality that he has learnt from his father and the sharpness of his personality along with the nuances of the styles that his elders has established. Merging the techniques of his Gurus, he has attempted to improvise music on `a single phrase bringing out -through modulations in volume and sound application - many diverse shades of meaning`. This earned him popularity amongst the new generation listeners. Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar has conducted many lecture-demonstrations to his credits. In the lecture-demonstrations his main attempt is to `illustrate Vedic-old technicalities through metaphors from daily life`.
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar has exhibited his performances in and around India on a regular basis. He has performed at many government events, private and official festivals, and also at radio and television. Along with his uncle he has recorded for Music Today. He has also recorded for an American film on World Devotional Music. He has performed for the U.N.E.S.C.O. during his concert tour to Europe in the year 1998. He has toured Switzerland, France, Holland, Belgium and Hungary for this purpose. He has bagged the honour of performing at the Maheshwar the city near Indore in the year 1999. It was an advantage for him as his grandfather; the legendary Ustad Nasiruddin Khan Dagar was a court musician there. After that he has recorded his solo performance with a Swiss music company. In this album he has recorded several ragas that were once exhibited at the historic fort. In the year 2000, he has bagged the honour of being first Dhrupadiya to tour North America. Now days apart from performing he is also teaching students.
