Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt (23 September 1921 – 2 May 2016) was a noted Indian composer and musician of Hindustani Vocal Music. He was also known as Bhavrang (भावरंग). He died at his home in Varanasi on 2 May 2016.

Early life and background

Balwant Rai Bhatt was born in Bhavnagar, Gujarat to Smt. Harkunvar and Shri Gulabrai Bhatt on 23 September 1921.

Career

Bhatt was a disciple of Pandit Omkarnath Thakur of

Gwalior Gharana The Gwalior Gharana (Gwalior school of classical music) is one of the oldest Khyal Gharana in Indian classical music. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542–1605). The favourite singers of t ...

. In 1950, he moved to

Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic t ...

with his mentor setting up a music institution named Kala Sangeet Bharati at the

Banaras Hindu University Banaras Hindu University (BHU) IAST: kāśī hindū viśvavidyālaya IPA: /kaːʃiː hɪnd̪uː ʋɪʃwəʋid̪jaːləj/), is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916 ...

. He taught at the university for 31 years. The music institution grew and evolved through the years, and was the Faculty of Performing Arts. Apart from being an educator, he was known as an exceptionally talented composer. He was considered a complete ''Vaggeyakaar'', one who composes both ''Vak'' or the word (couplets, poems) and the ''Geya'' (literally translated to singable) or the melody. He has a penchant for layakari, and many of his compositions incorporate intricate ''laya'' (tempo) patterns. Many of his compositions have been published in book form as the three volumes of ''Bhavrang Lahari''. Bhavrang was his pen name. He was 'Gurubandhu' Classmate of Pt.Jashvantrai Bhatt(Disciple of Omkarnathji).

Books

He edited the Sangeetanjali series of books that were authored by Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. A 3-volume book series called Bhavrang Lahari (भावरंग लहरी) contains many of his compositions.

Awards

Balwant Rai Bhatt has been awarded

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

by the Government of India in 1990. He was awarded

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...

in 2004. He was honored with the prestigious

Kalidas Samman The Kalidas Samman ( hi, कालिदास सम्मान) is an arts award presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in India. The award is named after Kālidāsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The ...

in the year 2007–08.

Students

* Damodar Hota *

Veena Sahasrabuddhe Veena Sahasrabuddhe (14 September 1948 – 29 June 2016) was an Indian vocalist and composer of Hindustani classical music from Kanpur. Her singing style had its roots in Gwalior gharana, but it also borrowed from Jaipur and Kirana gharanas. ...

* Prof. Chittaranjan Jyotishi

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhatt, Balwantrai 1921 births 2016 deaths Hindustani singers Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Gwalior gharana Academic staff of Banaras Hindu University Indian music educators Indian male composers Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts