Mewar and the Dhrupad Tradition

The association of the Dagar Dhrupad tradition in the Mewar court started when Maharana Sajjan Singhji (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 principle musicians 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 Singhji (1921-1984) continued with this tradition of giving patronage to Khan Sahib Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Khan Sahib Aminuddin Dagar. Dhrupad gayaki, as we know it today, is a shaili or style derived from Prabandh Gayan authored by Maharana Kumbha. It is from the Dhruva Prabandh that Drupad is developed as a forceful, serious and provocative style of classical vocal music. In Dhrupad is discovered the power of peace, romanticism and the sheer shakti or energy of Veer-ras. 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, sutaal and teevr-taal.

Maharana Bhagwat Singhji 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.