Renowned singer Ustad Sayeeduddin Dagar passes away

The maestro died in a Pune hospital following prolonged illness. He was part of the illustrious Dagar family of musicians.

Pune, July 31: Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar, one of the foremost exponents of the Dhrupad tradition, died in a Pune hospital late on Sunday evening following prolonged illness, said medical superintendent of MJM Hospital, Pune, Shrirang Patwardhan. He was 78.

Known affectionately to his legions of disciples and admirers as 'Saeed Bhai', the maestro was born in Alwar in Rajasthan in 1939 and was the youngest among the eight famous Dagar brothers - all exponents of the ancient, complex and elaborate Dhrupad tradition.

His older brothers include Ustaad Nasir Moinuddin, Nasir Aminuddin Dagar (known as the 'elder' Dagar brothers), Nasir Zahiruddin and Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar (called the 'junior' Dagar brothers).

Ustaad Sayeeduddin is survived by his wife Rihanna and sons, Nafeesuddin and Aneesuddin (both Dhrupad exponents) and his grandsons.

What is Dhrupad tradition?

Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music. It is one of the oldest forms of compositions in the classical Indian music and a form that is also found in its Carnatic tradition. It is a Sanskrit name, derived from the words dhruva (immovable, permanent) and pad (verse), a combination that means "pillar". The roots of Dhrupad are ancient, and it is discussed in the Hindu Sanskrit text Natyashastra (200 BCE - 200 CE)

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