BHUBANESWAR: Eminent artist, author and art historian, Dr Dinanath Pathi passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday. He was 74 and suffered from cardiac arrest.
Born in Digapahandi village of Ganjam district in Southern Odisha, Dr Pathy was one of the pioneers of the Contemporary Art Movement in Odisha. After pursuing a degree in art from Khallikote College, he had done his PhD in Art History from Santiniketan and taught painting in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhubaneswar from 1967 to 1972.
Dr Pathy was also a curator of Arts and Crafts in the Odisha State Museum from 1972 to 1979. He had established the first art college 'Chitram' at Bhubaneswar and later became the founder principal of the Government BK College of Art and Crafts, in Bhubaneswar. He held the post for a decade till 1994. Pathi was also the secretary of the National Academy of Art, New Delhi from 1994 to 1996.
He was the Director of Alice Boner Institute, Varanasi for several years, besides holding the secretary and president posts of Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi in Bhubaneswar and Delhi respectively.
A recipient of President of India Silver Plaque for Painting, Dr Pathy's works were showcased in art galleries and museums in India, England, Europe, Egypt, China, Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia.
Having authored at least 100 books on Odisha art and culture, and several more on Odia literature, he was felicitated with Reitberg Award for his lifetime contribution and long association with Museum Reitberg in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2014. Pathi was the chairperson of Ila Panda Centre for Arts, which was to hold a first of its kind art conclave in Bhubaneswar on Monday.