Illustrious Hindustani Vocalist Pandit Damodar Hota Passes Away At 88

Eminnet classical singer from Odisha, Pandit Damodar Hota breathed his last on Sunday due to old age-related ailments, his family said.

The renowned Hindustani vocalist was 88.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, many other noted personalities and fans condoled death of the famous vocalist. 

Odisha government has announced that his mortal remains will be cremated with full state honours on Tuesday.

"Pandit Hota's contribution to Indian classical music will be remembered for posterity, he said, extending condolences to the bereaved family.

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

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 (@dpradhanbjp) February 6, 2022

Born on December 25, 1935 in Puri, Pandit Hota was trained in Odissi classical music by his father Gopinath Hota. He later received guidance in Odissi and Hindustani classical music from Guru Nrusinghanatha Khuntia, while Guru Kashinath Barika taught him to master tabla and mardala.

With scholarship from Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Hota also trained under Pandit Omkarnath Thakur and Pandit Balwantrai Bhatt.

Pandit Hota earned honours in Hindustani music from Banaras Hindu University, a PhD degree from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal in Mumbai. His research on Odissi classical music in the 1960s was considered "ground-breaking" as it revealed the historical roots, distinct ragas, talas, and lakshyanas of the genre.

The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi has honoured Pandit Hota with Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Award. He is credited to have mentored hundreds of classical music enthusiasts during his decades-long career.