Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar passes away

Dhruvpad exponent Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar passed away late last night. The 83-year old maestro of Dagar vani Dhrupad--one of the most pristine and richest form of Indian Classical Music--was having breathing problem for sometime and was undertreatment at a hospital in New Delhi. A recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan award(2008), Lifetime Achievement award(2007), the Ustad dedicated himself for more than six decades for singing, popularsing-promoting and patronising the Dhruvpad under-current in classic singing.

He was born in Alwar in 1927 and studied the Rudra Veena with his uncle Ustad Ziauddin Khan Dagar. He also took occasional lessons from his other uncles Ustad Hussainuddin Khan Dagar (better known as Tansen Pandey) and Ustad Imamuddin Khan Dagar. Rahim Fahimuddin learnt Sanskrit from his father and Pt. Girdharilal Shastri and acquired the ability to recite Sanskrit texts properly. The maestro was known not only for the power and spontaneity of his "alaap", but also for his rich repertoire of compositions, some of which are believed to date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.. These qualities made him popular in many countries like the USA, France, Germany and Italy. Several honours beginning with the Sangeet Ratan in 1956 to Padma Bhushan 2008, his kitty has Sangeet Natak Academy honour, Meyar Foundation award, Kalidas Samman, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan award, Sahitya Kala Parishad award, Nada Life time achievement award.