SPIC MACAY, Sunder Nursery to Present ‘Sangeet Sudha’ with Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar’s Dhrupad Recital
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SPIC MACAY and Sunder Nursery have joined hands to launch an exciting public outreach initiative aimed at promoting cultural awareness among the capital’s residents. This collaboration, named Sangeet Sudha, features regular monthly performances of classical music and dance in the state-of-the-art auditorium within the World Heritage Site Museum at Humayun’s Tomb.
The fifth edition of Sangeet Sudha will feature a performance by the renowned Dhrupad maestro, Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar ji. Joining him is Pt. Manmohak Nayak ji, a well-known Pakhawaj player, acclaimed for his skilled rhythms and expressive style. The soulful voice of Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar ji and the meditative Pakhawaj of Pt. Manmohak Nayak ji comes together to offer a sonic retreat for the soul of the capital. The event is scheduled for Friday, 25th July 2025.
Reviving Delhi’s Cultural Landscape: SPIC MACAY has a long history of collaborating with like-minded organisations and government bodies, such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, NDMC, and municipal corporations across India, to organise classical music and dance programmes for the public to preserve India’s intangible cultural heritage and make art accessible to all sections of society. While SPIC MACAY’s primary focus has been on conducting events in educational institutions for students, this partnership at the World Heritage Site Museum at Humayun’s Tomb and the Sunder Nursery Garden Amphitheatre — an initiative by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture — marks a significant expansion of SPIC MACAY’s mission, bringing India’s rich culture and vibrant heritage to a broader audience.
The Role of Humayun’s Tomb Amphitheatre and Sunder Nursery: The museum at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the immensely popular Sunder Nursery attract over a million visitors annually. The use of the breathtaking museum auditorium and the lush garden amphitheatre at Sunder Nursery by SPIC MACAY and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture transforms these historic spaces into vibrant hubs of cultural immersion—drawing Delhiites closer to the living pulse of India’s artistic heritage.
Sudha Sangini Foundation: This initiative has been further strengthened by the support of Sudha Sangini, a renowned organisation dedicated to working with various sections of society, including tribal women and environmental initiatives.
Event: Musical performance by Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar ji (Dhrupad Vocal), accompanied by Pt. Manmohan Nayak ji
on the Pakhawaj
Date: 25 July 2025
Time: 4:30 PM
Venue: Museum Auditorium, Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site, New Delhi
Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar
Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar ji is the 20th generation torchbearer of the Dagarvani tradition of Dhrupad, India’s most ancient form of classical vocal music. Nephew and son of the legendary Dagar Brothers—Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar ji and Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar ji—Wasifuddin ji began his training at an early age under their close guidance.
His deep immersion in the oral guru-shishya parampara shaped not only his voice but his entire musical being, eventually leading him to become the foremost contemporary exponent of Dhrupad globally. After making his debut under the eyes of his gurus, he performed alongside his uncle as part of the Dagar Duo before continuing solo after 1994. Since then, he has toured extensively across Europe, the US, Japan, and beyond, presenting the austere yet profoundly spiritual art of Dhrupad on world stages—from the United Nations Peace Summit in New York to the UNESCO concert series in Paris. A powerful performer known for his tonal precision, emotive alap, and gamak-rich delivery, he also has a unique ability to draw audiences into the subtle depths of raga through occasional explanations and a warm stage presence.
A Padma Shri awardee (2010), Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar ji has received several other recognitions, including the Dr. Honoris Causa from Collège de France (2003), “Delhi Ratna,” “Virasat,” and “Rajasthan Gaurav.” He has contributed to significant cross-cultural dialogues in music, including collaborations with composers like Philip Glass ji and appearances at festivals curated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and John Schaeffer ji. As President of the Dhrupad Society and the Dagar Brothers Memorial Trust, he has remained deeply committed to teaching, archiving, and propagating the Dhrupad tradition—especially among younger generations through SPIC MACAY and intensive workshops.
Equally active in cultural policy making, he serves on expert panels and boards of institutions like the Sangeet Natak Akademi, National School of Drama, and NCERT. Through performances, pedagogy, and public scholarship, Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar ji continues to shape the contemporary identity of Dhrupad, not merely as a musical form but as a living philosophy of sound.
Pt. Manmohak Nayak ji
Pt. Manmohan Nayak ji is an acclaimed Pakhawaj maestro whose musical journey reflects deep commitment to the preservation and evolution of India’s ancient rhythmic traditions. Born in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, he began his formal training under the revered Pt. Dalchand Sharma ji at Maharishi Gandharva Ved Vishwavidyapeeth, Noida, in 1985. Over three decades of rigorous study in the Nathdwara Gharana style have shaped his artistry into a rare blend of tradition, clarity, and powerful expression.
An A-graded artist with All India Radio and Doordarshan, Pt. Manmohan Nayak ji holds a postgraduate degree in Pakhawaj from Khairagarh University and is recognized both as a soloist and an accompanist par excellence. He has performed alongside leading exponents of Indian classical music, including Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar ji, Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar ji, Ustad Bahauddin Dagar ji, Pt. Pushpraj Koshti ji, Pt. Nirmalya Dey ji, and Pt. Prem Kumar Mallick ji. His sensitivity as an accompanist extends across diverse instruments and genres—from Rudra Veena and Surbahar to fusion ensembles—earning him wide acclaim in India and abroad.
His performance career spans prestigious platforms such as the Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan (Mumbai), Kalidas Sangeet Sammelan (Ujjain), SaMaPa Sangeet Samaroh, and Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan. Internationally, he has represented India at major festivals in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, and France, including the Festival of Namaste France and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Honoured with awards such as the “Taalmani” (2003), “Sangeet Ratna” (2011), and the Gold Shield by Sangeet Natak Akademi (1993), Pt. Manmohan Nayak ji has also been instrumental in mentoring younger artists and promoting rhythm pedagogy. He currently serves as a Senior Pakhawaj Artist at the Central Bureau of Communication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. His playing, marked by intricate compositions, clarity of tone, and a deep spiritual resonance, continues to inspire and elevate the art of Pakhawaj across generations.
