Arundhati Mukherji Jadavpur University, Calcutta

Music is an integral part of our ancient culture that is transmitted from our ancient forefathers to their progeny for the ultimate happiness of mankind. Indian music is highly sophisticated, extremely penetrating and divine in nature. The task of keeping this glorious heritage alive and making it increasingly popular among the common masses has been one big labour of love for the Dagar family. When Dhrupad became unfashionable for musicians and many artistes felt embarrased to admit that the roots of their music were in this style of music the famous Dagar brothers, Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and our present guruji, Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar stepped into the scene. These two brothers worked fearlessly and performed brilliantly to raise Dhrupad to the stage of glory and prestige.

After the sudden demise of Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar, the younger brother Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar established the "Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar Dhrupad Sangeet Ashram" in 1975 at Calcutta. The aim of this unique institution was to ensure the proper enunciation and spread of Dhrupad music in what is called the Dagar-Vani style.

This Ashram which is not a School or College of Music in the traditional sense is, by the grace of God, still going strong. The Ashram offers extraordinary training in Alap, Dhrupad and Dhamar of the Dagar-Vani style of music according to guru-shishya parampara with special emphasis on voice culture. The essence of this Dagar-Vani style is the Aradhana Bhava which cannot be taught by superficial means.

Dhrupad, in the Dagar-Vani style, is not for the mere pleasure of the audience, but is an extension of the artists prayer and submission at the feet of God. It is in our own present guruji, Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar, that we find this outstanding ability to plant the seed of Aradhana Bhava in the shishya's heart which can ultimately transform her into a true Dhrupad artiste.

Guruji's two hardworking disciples -- the Nandy sisters, Aloka and Ashoka, who were brought up in this gurukul are now shining very brightly as truly devoted and sincere progeny as well as the new teachers of this style. Other younger and more junior disciples are also grooming themselves with hardwork and dedication in this ashram.

Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar as a true and honest guruji, treats all students as his own children. On the other hand, a shishya treats the Ashram as an extension of her home and a temple of learning, where she gets peace of mind with Guruji's blessings and learns many lessons when Guruji criticizes her for her faults.

What is extremely interesting is that the Dagar Ashram provides for that form of learning that is permanently woven into the heart and soul of the students. The guru shishya parampara is thus alive and thriving in this unique Calcutta ashram.

Arundhati Mukherji is a Post Doctoral Research Scholar in the Department of Philosophy at Jadavpur University, Calcutta.