Balwantrai Bhatt
Encyclopedia
Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt is a noted India
n composer
and musician
of Hindustani vocal music
. He is also known as "Bhav Rang".
to Smt. Harkunvar and Shri Gulabrai Bhatt on 23 September 1921.
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 is now the Faculty of Performing Arts.
Apart from being an educator, he is known as an exceptionally talented composer. He is 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
patterns. Many of his compositions have been published in book form as the three volumes of Bhavrang Lahari. Bhavrang is his pen name.
. He also has a book called Bhavrang Lahiri that includes his compositions.
by the Government of India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
of Hindustani vocal music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
. He is also known as "Bhav Rang".
Early life and background
Balwant Rai Bhatt was born in Bhavnagar, GujaratBhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
to Smt. Harkunvar and Shri Gulabrai Bhatt on 23 September 1921.
Career
Bhatt is a disciple of Omkarnath ThakurOmkarnath Thakur
Omkarnath Thakur was an Indian educator, musicologist, and Hindustani classical singer. He is famously known as "Pranav Rang", his pen-name.Thakur was born 1897 in a village in the Princely State of Baroda into a poor military family...
of Gwalior Gharana
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
. In 1950, he moved to Varanasi with his mentor setting up a music institution named Kala Sangeet Bharati at the Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
. He taught at the university for 31 years. The music institution grew and evolved through the years, and is now the Faculty of Performing Arts.
Apart from being an educator, he is known as an exceptionally talented composer. He is 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
Laya
"Laya" may refer to:People* Laya , a Chinese Indonesian surname* The Layap people of the Himalayas* Laya , Telugu movie actress* Jean-Louis Laya , dramatist...
patterns. Many of his compositions have been published in book form as the three volumes of Bhavrang Lahari. Bhavrang is his pen name.
Books
He edited the Sangeetanjali series of books that were authored by Omkarnath ThakurOmkarnath Thakur
Omkarnath Thakur was an Indian educator, musicologist, and Hindustani classical singer. He is famously known as "Pranav Rang", his pen-name.Thakur was born 1897 in a village in the Princely State of Baroda into a poor military family...
. He also has a book called Bhavrang Lahiri that includes his compositions.
Awards
Balwant Rai Bhatt has been awarded Padma ShriPadma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by the Government of India.