Dagar Brothers
The association of the Dagar Dhrupad tradition in the Mewar court started when Maharana
Sajjan Singh (1859-1884) who appointed as his court musicians Ustad Zakhiruddin
Khan Dagar (1840-1923) and Ustad Allabandhe Khan Dagar (1845-1927) the foremost
exponents of Dhrupad.
Since then, a member of the Dagar family has always held the position of the principal
musician of the Mewar court. Ustad Zakhiruddin Khan was succeeded by his son Ustad
Ziauddin Khan, and after the merger of Mewar with the union of India, Maharana Bhagwat
Singh Mewar (1921-1984) continued with this tradition of giving patronage to Khan
Sahib Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Khan Sahib Aminuddin Dagar.
There are 4 sections or Bhaags of
Dhrupad gayaki, namely Sthai, Antara, Sanchari and Aabhog. With the
accompanying percussion instruments like mridang or pakhawaj, Dhrupad is sung in
chau-taal, su-taal and teevr-taal.
Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar invited both the elder Dagar brothers on several occasions
in the 1950's to perform in Udaipur, and displayed remarkable foresightedness by
recording these performances with their permission.