Other States - Orissa   

Dhirendra Nath passes away

Dhirendra Nath Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: Internationally acclaimed scholar and former president of the Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi Dhirendra Nath Patnaik passed away in the neighbouring Cuttack city on Thursday night. He was 75 and is survived by wife and a daughter.

Patnaik was active till he breathed his last, family sources said. He complained of chest pain and was shifted to the hospital where doctors declared him dead due to cardiac arrest.

Acknowledged as an authority over performing arts of Orissa, Patnaik was instrumental in getting classical status for Odissi dance 60 years ago.

Along with the founding fathers of the dance form, he had formed Jayantika Association that brought a unanimous view of the gurus towards the style resulting in codification of its grammar.

Patnaik was honoured with Orissa’s highest State honour for performing arts – Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman – and the Central State Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) award among scores of honours, awards and felicitations. He was the founder principal of the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Bhubaneswar – Asia’s first college of performing arts. He also held several prestigious positions, including chairperson of the International Odissi dance festival held in USA.

Author of 18 path-breaking publications on the arts of Orissa – both in English and Oriya – his scholarly articles were regular features in a number of prestigious publications.

The first male Odissi dancer to perform outside the State – the inter-university youth festival in Delhi in 1954 – he scripted, composed lyrics and choreographed a number of dance ballets.

His body was taken in a procession to the Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack and then to the Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi, Odissi Research Centre and the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Bhubaneswar.

Culture Minister S.N. Patro, Commissioner of Culture B.C. Jena and others paid their last respects to the departed soul at the Mahavidyalaya. His mortal remains were consigned to flames in the holy town of Puri on Friday evening.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Safe blood distribution week opens
RSP: smart moves help tide over crisis
Floriculture: a story of missed opportunities
Momentous occasion
Safety matters
Corporation status sought
Jailed in graft case
Pen down strike
BU celebrates Foundation Day
Tragedy strikes picnickers, woman dies
Contests for students
In search of peace in Kandhamal
Dhirendra Nath passes away
Two injured as bombs explode
Police asked to be sensitive to woes of poor
Maoists deny reports of split in party

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu