Veteran painter Dinanath Pathy passes away

Bhubaneswar: Noted painter, writer and art historian Dr Dinanath Pathy passed away following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital here today. He was 74.

Pathy was admitted to Kar Clinic here after he felt chest pain while on his morning walk today. Though he was given treatment by doctors, he died shortly thereafter.

A former secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Bhubaneswar, Pathy was one of the pioneers of the art movement in the State. He dedicated his life to promotion of Odia art all over the world though his art work, poetry and teaching. He was also the former principal of the BK College of Art and Crafts in Bhubaneswar and chairman of Ila Panda Centre for Art.

The eminent painter has written more than 60 books in Odia, English and German languages. Among the books authored by Pathy are Sayonara, Punarnava, Chilika Panire Chhai and Gachha Koradare Hrudaya. His art works have been acclaimed by art lovers and connoisseurs in the country and abroad.

Pathy had received the prestigious international Rietberg Award of Switzerland-based Rietberg Society in 2014 in recognition of his profound contributions to research on Indian art history and his lifetime dedication to the field of art as a painter and chronicler. He has also been conferred with the President of India's Silver Plaque for painting, the Orissa Sahitya Akademi Award for creative literature for his autobiography Drawing Master of Digapahandi and Jawaharlal Fellowship for his research work.

After the news of his death surfaced, people from various walks of life visited his home at Bhimtangi here to the pay their last homage to the veteran painter. Culture Minister Ashok Panda, MPs Baijayant Panda and Prasanna Patsani expressed their deep condolence on his demise.