Baha’ud-din Dagar, son of the legendary Rudra Veena maestro Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, belongs to the 20th generation of the Dagar family and also the nephew of the renowned vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar.
He started his training on the sitar under the tutelage of his mother Smt Pramila Dagar at the age of seven. After three years of initial training he went on to learn the Surbahar and then the Rudra Veena under his father.Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar . Since then he has been responsible for keeping the Dagar Vani style of Dhrupad alive on the Rudra Veena.
While Baha’ud-din’s music clearly reflects the training he has received from his father, he has incorporated a personal dimension to the depth and exploration of the raga. The vocal training he has received from his uncle has helped him incorporate the Dhrupad syllables in the playing of the Rudra Veena. This gives a unique and precise sense of timing in the cutting of phrases while presenting the aalap, jor and the jhala.
Acknowledging his responsibility in taking the Dhrupad tradition to future generations, Baha’ud-din teaches both, vocal and instrumental forms of music to students from different backgrounds in various parts of the country in India and also abroad. He firmly believes that teaching is integral to his own learning and growth as a musician.
In 1990 Baha’ud-din received the Lakhanpal Foundation fellowship for two years. He received a two year Fellowship in 1993 from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India.
He was presented the prestigious Sanskriti Award, instituted by the Sanskriti Foundation New Delhi, 2006, The Yuvak Sadhak Award by the Sangeetendu Lal Mani Mishra Foundation Bhopal 2007, the The Raza Award 2007 by the Raza Foundation New Delhi and the most prestigious the Sangeet Nataka Academy Award 2012 by Sangeet Natak Academy New Delhi.
He is an ‘A’ Grade artist at All India Radio, Mumbai. Baha’ud-din has performed to various audiences in India and abroad, some of them being:(In India) The Tansen Samaroahs, Gwalior, the Shankarlal Festival: New Delhi, The Doverlane Festival; Calcutta, Dhrupad Samaroahs in Mumbai, Delhi, The Sangeet Natak Acadamy Fest, Delhi, Saptak: Ahmedabad, Kalidas Samaroah ;Ujjain in India(In Abroad) Zeitfluss Fest Austria, Festival Du Fes Morocco, Mozart Bicentenary CelebrationAustria, and for SPIC-MACAY in India, U.S.A and Canada, Darbar Festival, London.