Purushottam Das (Born: 7 July 1907 – Died: 21 January 1991) was the pioneer of the
Nathdwara
Nathdwara is a town near Rajsamand city in the Rajsamand district of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is located in the Aravalli hills, on the banks of the Banas River and is 48 kilometres north-east of Udaipur. Shrinathji, is a swarup o ...
school of
Pakhawaj
The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South As ...
(a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum instrument usually played in the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
) playing.
Awards and recognitions
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Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academi Award, Jodhpure in 1971
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Sahitya kala Parishad (Literary Art Council), New delhi in 1978
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Taal-Vilas by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai in 1978
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President's Award by Sangeet Natak Academy, New delhi in 1978
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Dagar Gharana Award by Maharana Mewar Foundation, Udaipur in 1982
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Kalani Award by Kalani organization, Jodhpur in 1983
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Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
in 1984
*
Traavankor Maharaj Swati Tirullu Dhrupad Award by Sire of Banaras in 1985
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Nana Panse Award by Dhrupad Organization, Indor in 1985
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Fellowship Award by Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy, Jodhpur in 1989
He was the son of Sri Ghanshyam Das ji and the eldest member of Nathdwara parampara. Since he was five years old he was able to recite and play various in traditional ways. Sri Ghanshyam Das ji used to take little Purushottam along to the temple while playing for the Lord. When he was just nine, his father died and Purushottam was burdened to carry the parampara. He successfully managed to carry it on his shoulders. And served at Sri Nathdwara Temple following his ancestors for many years. Later he joined Bhartiya Kala Kendra and Kathak Kendra at Delhi and finally came back to Sri Nathdwara and left his body there. He had no son but he trained and developed many good disciples including Sri Prakash Chandra, Sri Shyamlal and Sri Ramkrishna (Nathdwara), Sri Durgalal, Maharaj Chhatrapati Singh, Sri Harikrishna Bahera, Pt Totaram Shrama etc.(by Ananya Sharma from St Kabeer Academy, Dehradun)
References
External links
kathakensemble.com - Purushottam Das
1907 births
Year of death missing
Indian male musicians
Rajasthani people
People from Rajsamand district
Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
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