For Nafeesuddin and Aneesuddin Dagar, music is the connection to eternity

Preserving one of the most ancient rivulet of music, they are the 20th generation heirs to one of the richest legacies in Indian classical music, the Dagarwani Drupad. Ardently following their illustrious ancestry Nafeesuddin and Aneesuddin Dagar say that music is their way of life.

"Any kind of art can be mastered only if one is passionate and is willing to give his fullest. And for something like music, you have to dedicate your whole life to it," said Nafeesuddin Dagar while addressing a seminar for the students of liberal studies at FLAMES college in Lavale.

After initial training under their father, Ustad Sayeeduddin Dagar and uncles Ustad N Zariruddin Dagar and Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar, the duo is currently seeking guidance from their uncle, the renowned Ustad R Fahimuddin Dagar and cousin Faiyaz Dagar. "Music is a never-ending subject and we believe that the learning process must go on," say the two, adding, "Like our ancestors, we too want to devote our life to music and would also propose the same to our coming generations," says Aneesuddin.

With changing tastes, as the influx of western music has hit the current generation, Aneesuddin feels that whatever music one may hear for the moment, the charm of classical music will remain forever. "Fads may come and go but our cultural heritage is very strong and will never die," he says. While Nafeesuddin who feels that the glitz of reality shows on TV is a wrong way to groom young talent, says, "It is very difficult for the children to handle the limelight at such a young age... one failure can break their heart forever. Besides, their actual potential gets lost in the race of commercialisation."

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