Bhubaneswar: The doyen of Hindustani classical and Odissi classical (Uddra Paddhtiya) music, Pandit Dr Damodar Hota passed away late night on Saturday. Pandit Hota was 87.
He was suffering from cardiac ailments over the past few years. Last night, at around 1 am he succumbed while being rushed to a private hospital here.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep condolences on Dr Hota’s demise. Naveen tweeted:
“I am deeply saddened after learning about the death of eminent Hindustani classical musician, vocalits and Guru, Pandit Damodar Hota. He will always be remembered for his contribution for promoting and research on Uddra Paddhatiya Sangeet. I pray for the immortal soul and express condolences for the bereaved family members.”
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ହିନ୍ଦୁସ୍ଥାନୀ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତଜ୍ଞ ଗୁରୁ ତଥା ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଦାମୋଦର ହୋତାଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଉଡ୍ରପଦ୍ଧତ୍ତୀୟ ସଙ୍ଗୀତର ଗବେଷଣା ଓ ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ନିଜ ଅବଦାନ ପାଇଁ ସେ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବେ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 6, 2022
Dr Hota’s primary research on Odissi classical music in the 1960s was groundbreaking in uncovering the historical roots, distinct ragas, talas, and lakshyanas of the music. He has fought to preserve the authenticity and distinctiveness of the form through his vocal performance, teaching, scholarship, and advocacy.
People from all quarters expressed condolences on his demise. “His death has left a gaping void in Odissi and Hindustani classical sector which cannot be filled,” they said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed deep gried of Hota’s demise. Taking to Twitter Pradhan said:
“I am deeply saddened on the demise of acclaimed vocalist, researcher and teacher, Pandit Dr Damodar Hota. His contribution towards the development of Odissi music’s Uddra Paddhati, is unquestionable. I pray for peace to the departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family members. Omm Shanti.”
ଖ୍ୟାତିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ସଙ୍ଗୀତଜ୍ଞ, ଗବେଷକ ତଥା ଶିକ୍ଷାବିତ୍ ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଡ଼ଃ ଦାମୋଦର ହୋତାଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ବିଶେଷତଃ ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ସଙ୍ଗୀତରେ ‘ଉଡ୍ର’ ଗାୟନ ପଦ୍ଧତି ବିକାଶରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଅନସ୍ୱୀକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ । ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି
— Dharmendra Pradhan (मोदी का परिवार) (@dpradhanbjp) February 6, 2022
Hota is recognised as a Guru in Hindustani as well as Odissi classical singing. He was a musicologist and composer and also Principal and senior faculty of Hindustani vocal music at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.
He started learning music from his mother Dandimani Devi and father Gopinath Hota who were vocalists in Odissi music and Mardala as practised in Jagannath Temple of Puri.
He attended the College of Music and Fine Arts at Banaras Hindu University. For his Doctor of Music degree, he was awarded Pandit Mirashi Buwa Puraskar. He continued training in Odissi under Guru Nrusinghanatha Khuntia. He was the chief disciple of Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt (Bhav Rang) and Pandit Omkarnath Thakur (Pranav Rang). His compositions bear the pen name ‘Swar Rang’.
