Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar was taught Dhrupad music by his father and later by his elder brother, the late Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. He has popularized Dhrupad by his concerts and workshops and has performed widely here and abroad. He has received many well known awards such as, Tansen sanmaan, Award by Sangeet Natak Academy, in recognition of his contribution. He has been the Guru and Director of the Dhrupad Kendra in Bhopal for two decades. His teaching of Dhrupad is so profound, that many of his students have got recognition in the classical music scene here in India and abroad.

In order to bring out the full tonal quality and resonance, he had modified the instrument radically, over several years. This helped him to bring out a quiet deep unique insight into the expressive possibilities of the Veena, which helped him to convey the finest emotional aspects of his own sensitivity. The way he succeeded in blending the musical form and its content empasising the finer details of microtonality has no counterpart in Hindustani music today. We are fortunate to have some of his music in recorded Cds.It was obvious that the Rudra Veena blended totally with his reserved contemplative amiable personality. He was a mild and kind hearted man, concerned more with the essence of music than with his formal and theoretical aspects. His profound musical knowledge and talent equalled his humility and simplicity. It was the depth of his gentle approach to music which attracted many of us. He was an excellent and dedicated teacher of his generation. It will be extremely hard to find his equal.