Wasifuddin Dagar

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is a prominent Dhrupad singer who carries forward the centuries-old Dagar tradition with depth, precision, and quiet authority. Born into the illustrious Dagar family, he is the son of Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and the nephew of Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, collectively known as the Junior Dagar Brothers. His musical training began at the age of five and followed the traditional guru-shishya parampara, immersing him in the aesthetics of Dhrupad from an early age.

His primary training was under his father and uncle, complemented by guidance from senior members of the family, including his grand-uncle Ustad Rahimuddin Dagar, his elder uncle Nasir Aminuddin Dagar of the Senior Dagar Brothers, and other distinguished relatives such as Zia Fariduddin Dagar, Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, and H. Sayeeduddin Dagar. Between 1989 and 1994, he also performed and trained closely with his uncle Zahiruddin Dagar, presenting jugalbandis that were widely appreciated for their balance and purity of form.

Wasifuddin Dagar’s public career began in 1989, shortly after his father’s passing, with a concert alongside his uncle. His early recordings were made in Switzerland, India, and Japan, followed by releases in Europe and the United States. A French television production documented the life and music of the Dagar family, further introducing their work to international audiences.

Since 2000, he has toured extensively as a solo Dhrupad vocalist across North America, performing at prestigious venues including the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution, Yale University, Stanford University, UCLA, and major cultural centers in cities such as New York and Chicago. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2010, Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar continues to uphold the spiritual depth, structural clarity, and lineage-based integrity that define the Dagar tradition of Dhrupad.