Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar (1927-2011)
Padma Bhushan Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar, the senior-most
dhrupad artist belonging to the illustrious Dagar family, passed
away on Wednesday, 27th July 2011, at 10:20PM at Fortis
Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. He had suffered a massive
paralytic stroke on 19 December 2010 which had left the right
side of his body paralysed and made him lose his speech as well.
Over the last couple of days, his condition worsened due to
extreme congestion and suspected internal bleeding around the
lungs. The end finally came due to a massive heart attack while
he was on a ventilator at the ICU of the hospital.
Khansahib was among the most eminent musicians the country
produced in the 20th century. Born in Alwar, Rajasthan in 1927,
he was the only son of Padma Bhushan Ustad Allahbande Rahimuddin
Khan Dagar. Initiated into music at the age of 5, he learnt from
his father until the latter's death in 1975 and also had the
opportunity to learn from his eminent uncles - Ustad Nasiruddin
Khan Dagar, Ustad Ziauddin Khan Dagar, Ustad Imamuddin Khan
Dagar and Ustad Hussainuddin Khan Dagar - enabling him to
achieve the total mastery of the 12 mool siddhant and 40
alankars which are intricate to the Dagarbani tradition of
dhrupad. Apart from vocal music, Khansahib was also adept at
playing the Rudra Veena, an instrument he learnt for over 12
years, as well as the Sitar.
He had performed at all prominent festivals and venues in India
and abroad and his recordings have been published in
Switzerland, Germany, Italy and India. During the course of his
long performing career, he received numerous awards and honours
the prominent among which are the Sangeet Ratna (1956), Sangeet
Natak Akademi Award (1993), Dhrupad Ratna (1993), Kalidas Samman
(2002), Lifetime Achievement Award by Govt. of NCT of Delhi
(2007), Padma Bhushan (2008) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna
(2010). Ustadji was also associated with ITC SRA in the early
days of the Academy.
His loss has been mourned by musicians, connoisseurs and
students alike. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Naheed Dagar and
daughter Mrs. Saba Ghayyur.
|
