AryaShah at 14:45, 8 February 2023

2023-02-08T14:45:41Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Balwant Rai Bhatt
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|09|23|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|5|2|1921|9|23|df=y}}
| origin = [[Bhavnagar|Bhavnagar, Gujarat]], India
| genre = [[Hindustani Classical Music]]
| occupation = Composer, Singer
| years_active =
| label =
| website =
}}
'''Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt''' (23 September 1921 – 2 May 2016) was a noted Indian composer and musician of [[Hindustani Classical Music|Hindustani Vocal Music]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/03/03/stories/2006030302420200.htm |title=The Hindu : Friday Review Delhi / Music : Melodies of repose |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903143009/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/03/03/stories/2006030302420200.htm |archive-date=3 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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| Bhavnagar, Gujarat]] to Smt. Harkunvar and Shri Gulabrai Bhatt on 23 September 1921.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://omenad.net/page.php?goPage=http%3A%2F%2Fomenad.net%2Farticles%2Fbhavrang.htm|title = Omenad - Online Music Education}}</ref>

==Career==
Bhatt was a disciple of [[Omkarnath Thakur|Pandit Omkarnath Thakur]] of [[Gwalior Gharana]]. In 1950, he moved to [[Varanasi]] with his mentor setting up a music institution named Kala Sangeet Bharati at the [[Banaras Hindu University]]. He taught at the university for 31 years. The music institution grew and evolved through the years, and was the Faculty of Performing Arts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bhu.ac.in/fpa/index.htm |title=Welcome to Faculty of Performing Arts,Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi |access-date=2012-11-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209202339/http://www.bhu.ac.in/fpa/index.htm |archive-date=9 December 2012 }}</ref>

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 [[Omkarnath Thakur|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]] by the Government of India in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php |title=Untitled Document |access-date=31 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131221505/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php |archive-date=31 January 2009 }}</ref> He was awarded [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA: Awardeeslist:: |access-date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727234019/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was honored with the prestigious [[Kalidas Samman]] in the year 2007–08.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/hindi/award/kalidas.asp |title=Department of Public Relations :: Madhya Pradesh |access-date=2010-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923005204/http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/hindi/award/kalidas.asp |archive-date=23 September 2010 }}</ref>

== Students ==
* [[Damodar Hota]]
* [[Veena Sahasrabuddhe]]
* [[Prof. Chittaranjan Jyotishi]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}

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

Balwantrai Bhatt - Revision history

AryaShah at 14:45, 8 February 2023