Singhari Shyamsundar Kar
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''Desaraja Adiguru'' Singhari Shyamasundar Kar (; 4 March 1908 – 16 March 1975) was a renowned Odissi musician, Guru, singer, scholar and composer. Born to a ''sebayata'' (servitor) family of the Jagannatha Temple, he was groomed under veteran masters of the temple tradition and soon rose to be one of the towering Gurus of Odissi classical music in the 20th century. He was most known for his powerful voice and intricate style, his command over the
Mardala Mardala () is a classical percussive instrument native to the east Indian state of Odisha, traditionally used as the primary accompaniment in Odissi classical music. The instrument is different from other instruments that might have similar names ...
as well as his contribution towards the academic institutionalization of Odissi music education. Most of the performers of Odissi music, Mardala and Odissi dance of his period admit to having come under the commanding influence and knowledge of Singhari. He died on 16 March 1975. Born to father Gobinda Chandra Kara and mother Padmabati Debi in the Manikarnika Sahi of Puri town, Shyamsundar was attracted to music from his childhood. He lost his father at a young age and his mother initiated him into music, teaching him traditional Odissi songs such as ''Kamala Lochana Chautisa'', ''Manabodha Chautisa'', ''Malasri'', ''Suchitra'', ''Mangala'', ''Sarimana'', ''Bhajana'', ''Janana'', ''Malika'', '''Bali Re Bali''', Utha Re Kanhu Kesaba Hari''' and more. He would stay awake for several nights watching traditional musical plays such as ''Suanga'' and ''Lila''. He began his initial training in both Odissi vocal music as well as the Mardala from veteran musicians of Kalika Kota in Puri, namely Guru Harihara Rayaguru, Guru Gadi Jagannatha Pratihari, Guru Kalpataru Nayaka, Guru Chintamani Mishra, Guru Managobinda Mahanti (popularly known as 'Andha Mana') and others. He had completed his education in a Sanskrit ''tola'' and served as a hereditary ''Singhari'' ''sebāyata'' (servitor) in the Jagannatha Temple. He was a regular artist of Odissi music at All India Radio Kolkata (when there was no AIR centre in Odisha) and later in All India Radio Cuttack, often broadcasting Odissi songs, Chhanda, Champu, Bhajana & Janana. In 1954, he performed both Odissi vocal music as well as a Mardala recital as part of the All India Music Festival organised at
Red Fort The Red Fort or Lal Qila () is a historic fort in Old Delhi, Delhi in India that served as the main residence of the Mughal Emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1638, when he decided to shift hi ...
, New Delhi. He was known for his intricate method of training, in which he emphasised 65 lakshanas of Odissi music. His presentation and teaching method was based on research and training with 32 veteran Gurus of the Odissi tradition, namely Gadi Jagannatha Pratihari, Badapanda Harihara Guru, Dwarikanatha Guru, Harihara Rayaguru, Nityananda Mahasuara, Sadhucharana Dasa, Managobinda Mahanti, Sura Dasa, Narasingha Misra, Narasingha Upadhyaya, Narasingha Adhikari, Chintamani Misra, Somanatha Chinhara, Bhikari Dalei, Bidya Misra, Durgabati Barma, Sindhujema Dei,
Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami (, 8 August 1892 – 11 January 1948) was an Odissi musician, poet & composer, a Guru of traditional ''Rahasa'' or ''Rasa'' and film director in Odia-language films. Widely known for his efforts to keep alive the ''Rahas ...
, Sankara Ratha, Brahmananda Goswami, Parsurama Sannyasi, Languli Baba, ''Gayaka Siromani'' Apanna Panigrahi etc. He is known for having to his credit several notable disciples, such as Pt Nrusingha Nath Khuntia, Pt Markandeya Mahapatra, Pt Kashinath Pujapanda, Pt
Balakrushna Dash Sangeeta Sudhakara Balakrushna Dash () was a veteran Guru of Odissi music. One of the chief disciples of the legend Pt Gokul Chandra Srichandan of Kendrapada, Dash worked variously as a vocalist, composer and music director. He received the Odish ...
, Pt Lokanath Rath, Pt Lokanath Pala, Pt
Gopal Chandra Panda ''Pandit'' Gopal Chandra Panda (, ; born 1940) is a Guru of Odissi classical music, vocalist, researcher and composer. A disciple of Singhari Shyamsundar Kar, he has authored several books such as ''Odissi Raga Ratnabali'' & ''Odissi Raga Darp ...
, Pt Paschimeswar Jena, Vid Radhamani Mahapatra (Biswakarma), Vid Bishnupriya Samanta Singhara, Vid
Shyamamani Devi Shyamamani Devi (; born 1938) is a Odissi classical music vocalist composer. A disciple of Gurus Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and Balakrushna Dash, she is known for her popular renditions of classical Odissi music, such as Odissi, Chhanda, Champu, ...
, Pt Ghanashyam Panda, Vid
Bhubaneswari Mishra Bhubaneswari Mishra (25 January 1950 — 19 February 2016) was an Odissi classical singer and playback singer. She was a disciple of Adiguru Singhari Shyamsundar Kar. She was married to Dr. Jagamohan Misra, who was a popular physician and poet ...
, Pt Ramachandra Sahu, Pt Sukadeba Patri, Pt Akhil Kumar Lenka, Parasamani Debadasi etc. Among his disciples in Mardala are Guru Padmanabha Panda, Guru Basudeba Khuntia, Guru Chakradhara Sahu and Guru
Dhaneswar Swain Dhaneswar Swain (; born 18 May 1953) is an exponent and Guru of the Odissi Mardala, the traditional percussion instrument of Odissi music. He is known for his rhythmic compositions and fingering techniques, as well as his efforts to promote solo ...
. He served as a lecturer and head of department of Odissi vocal at
Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya is a performing arts-cum-educational institution in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. History and Accreditation Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya was established by former Chief minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik on 14 April 1964, u ...
, Bhubaneswar for several years. He also imparted training to students at ''Chamunda Mundi Jaga'' and ''Kalika Kota Jaga'', ancient community halls of Puri town. At his Puri home, he established the ''Syamasundara Sangita Bidyalaya'', an institution that continues to impart education in Odissi vocal music & Mardala. For his efforts, he received the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 1972–73. He died on 16 March 1975 (13 March as per some records).


See also

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Odissi music music () is a genre of classical music in India, originated from the eastern state of Odisha. The traditional ritual music for the service of Lord Jagannatha, Odissi music has a history spanning over two thousand years, authentic ''sangita-shas ...
*
Mardala Mardala () is a classical percussive instrument native to the east Indian state of Odisha, traditionally used as the primary accompaniment in Odissi classical music. The instrument is different from other instruments that might have similar names ...
*
Gita Govinda The ''Gita Govinda'' ( sa, गीत गोविन्दम्; ) is a work composed by the 12th-century Hindu poet, Jayadeva. It describes the relationship between Krishna, Radha and ''gopis'' (female cow herders) of Vrindavan. The ''Gita G ...
* ''
Gitaprakasa The Gitaprakasa (IAST: 'Gītaprakāśa'; "Illuminator of music") is a 16th-century musical treatise belonging to the tradition of Odissi music, written by the musicologist Krusnadasa Badajena Mahapatra. Mahapatra was a court musician of Gajapati Mu ...
''


References

{{Odia culture Odissi music Odissi Mardala Mardala players 1908 births Indian percussionists Recipients of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award 1975 deaths