[2] He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008, the third highest civilian honour given by Government of India,[3] followed by the 2010 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.
Initiated into the art of dhrupad at the age of five by his uncle Ustad Nasiruddin Khan Dagar, he received musical education for a period of 35 years from his father and family elders.
In his words, "this included full mastery over the 52 alankaars (fundamental principles), Nāda yoga, Rudra veena, Sanskrit education and of course Dhrupad-Dhamar."
[1] Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar was known not only for the power and spontaneity of his alaap, but also for his rich repertoire of compositions, some of which are believed to date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.
It is the quality of music which has taken him to many countries like the United States, France, Germany and Italy for performances before select audiences.