Dhrupad singer N. Wasifuddin Dagar comes from a family that has been singing mystically (and more) for the last 500 years. He is a descendant of Haridas Dagar, teacher of Tansen.
Trained since the age of five, Wasifuddin also followed in his illustrious forefather’s footsteps, singing in the Dagarvani style which he learnt from his father, the late N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, and his uncle (tauji) N. Zahiruddin Dagar. He also got instruction from his granduncle, A. Rahimuddin Dagar, elder uncle Aminuddin Dagar, apart from some of his ‘cousin uncles’, Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar and H. Sayeeduddin Dagar.
Wasif, as he is known, has sung countless times in India and abroad with his tauji Zahiruddin Dagar.
Wasif’s public career began within a few days of his father’s death in February 1989. Since then there have been concerts galore and the Padma Shri too. His first major recordings were in Switzerland, India and Japan in 1992 with major recording companies.
Wasif’s mystical singing has been heard at the UN, the Smithsonian Institutions, Yale, the city of Chicago, University of Washington, Seattle, apart from many places in India. Being groomed by and having lived years and years in the Dagar household, he was particularly close to his father and tauji, both of whom have passed away. Here Wasif speaks poignantly about the impact of the crises he subsequently faced.
On being taken under wing by his uncle Did you face any other crisis which affected you deeply?
When papa went away we didn’t know what the financial situation was. Tauji was there though. We didn’t know what was going to happen and what would be Tauji’s reaction. It (the crisis) didn’t last for a full day when he took over and implied, “I’ve lost a brother but you haven’t lost your father.” He did what had to be done.
Another beautiful thing was that on the third day he took me to teach. I sang a phrase that reminded me of my father and I started crying. Tauji was so angry that he sent me out of the room. It’s a tradition to stand after a scolding. I stood for an hour outside his room. He came out after a while and said, “Your father lived like a tiger and I want you to be the same.” He made me promise I would be strong.
On his uncle’s death
I lost my father again when Tauji passed away. It was a state in which one is an orphan again. I didn’t know the future but I had five years of singing when Tauji passed away. I had a bit of singing experience after Tauji’s death. A bit of encouragement also came. The Swiss man who had done my five CDs gave me a solo performance in Zurich in 1989. “We have faith in you, Wasif,” he said, and that boosted my morale.
With Tauji I had done 35 concerts in Japan and that had boosted my confidence. Uncle was encouraging even on stage. He would scold and encourage me both. He knew my ability. I was most attached to him and I was shaken up when he went. People knew I would do something for our traditional style of singing. My family supported me. With Tauji’s death, I put on a lot of weight. I did not know how the household would run or how many I would teach.
What life taught him…
Not to lose heart and to have a fighting spirit. You have to gain knowledge. If there is a query, and you open your heart and mind, there is a reply. A classroom is not the only place for an answer. It gave me the trust for the source which helps. You have to be deserving to get the reply.
The crisis helped me move ahead and work hard. I wished to be part of the world and not above it. I wished to be remembered as the grandson of the family.
