The Dhrupad maestro from Varanasi, professor of vocal music and Ex Dean at the faculty of performing arts at Banaras Hindu University, Pandit Ritwik Sanyal received the highest award for music in India, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from President of India Hon. Shri Pranab Mukherji in 2013.

While rigorously training in Dhrupad under Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Zia Fariddudin Dagar in Mumbai, he received an M. A. in philosophy from Mumbai University, a Masters in Music from Banaras Hindu University, and Ph.D. in musicology in 1980, under the supervision of of Prof. Prem Lata Sharma. He has around 50 published papers in various journals, and also composes Dhrupad lyrics. A “Top” grade (Dhrupad) artist at All India Radio & Doordarshan, Dr. Sanyal has widely performed both in India and abroad and is also creator of many ragas which are very popular with the current generation of musicians. For example, one of the ragas that was created over 30 years ago by Panditji and Late Us. Zia Fariduddin Dagar is raga “Shruti Vardhani”.