Tarini Charan Patra

Acharya Tarini Charan Patra (Odia: ତାରିଣୀ ଚରଣ ପାତ୍ର; 1901 – 4 March 1979) was a renowned Odissi musician, Guru, singer, scholar, poet, composer & Binākara (exponent of Odissi Veena). One of the most eminent artistes of Odissi classical music in the 20th century, he was known for his vocal renditions & Veena recitals on gramophone records & over the All India Radio, as well as his pioneering efforts in institutionalizing the training of Odissi music by setting up one of the earliest music universities in erstwhile Odisha, the Gandhiji Sangita Kalamandira at Boirani, Ganjam that remained active from 1940 until Patra's demise in 1979.[1][2]

Astabadhani Acharya Tarini Charan Patra ତାରିଣୀ ଚରଣ ପାତ୍ର
Background information
Birth name	Tarini Charan Patra
Born	(1901-02-01)1 February 1901 Pitala, Ganjam, Odisha
Died	4 March 1979(1979-03-04) (aged 78) Kabisuryanagar, Ganjam, Odisha
Genres	Odissi music
Occupation(s)	Odissi music Guru, singer, Binākara (Veena artiste), musicologist, composer
Instruments	Veena
Years active	1940-1979

He began his musical training first from his elder brother, who taught him Odissi, Chhanda, Champu and the various facets of Odissi music. He then continued his training under Guru Gaurahari Mahapatra of Bhanjanagar.[1]

In 1940, he established an institution called Sangita Kalamandira at his hometown Boirani (now Kabisuryanagar) for imparting systematic education in Odissi music. At the time, it was the first musical institute in all of South Odisha. Patra received encouragement from Ramachandra Marddaraja, the king of Khallikote and Sadashiva Tripathy, then Chief Minister of Odisha.[2] Traditionally, Odissi music was taught in the ancient gurukula system or at temples, mathas, jagas & akhadas. The concept of a formal institution only for musical education was quite new for the region. The institute was later renamed to Gandhiji Sangita Kalamandira in honour of Mahatma Gandhi.[1]

Among his disciples are Odissi Veena exponent Guru Ramarao Patra.[3]

He is the author of several books on Odissi music, the best-known of them being Odisi Sangita Prakasa (1970) and Sri Gitagobindara Swaralipi containing the first complete notation of all 24 ashtapadis of Jayadeva's Gitagovinda, which is a cornerstone of the Odissi music tradition.[1][2]

For his efforts, he received the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1972.[2]