Durga Lal

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Pandit Durga Lal | image = Pandit Durga Lal.jpg | birth_name = | birth_date = 1948 | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1990|1|21|1948||}} | death_place = | occupation = Kathak dancer | yearsactive= | othername = | spouse = | children = 2 | website = }} Pandit '''Durga Lal''' (1948 - 21 January 1990)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nrityakalakendra.org/news.htm |title=Homage to Guruji |publisher=Nritya Kala Kendra |author=Malini Shah |accessdate=26 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025233346/http://nrityakalakendra.org/news.htm |archive-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> was a renowned Kathak dancer of the Jaipur Gharana. He was born in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan. He is known for playing the main role in the 1989 dance drama ''Ghanashyam'', the music of which was composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar and was produced by Birmingham Opera Company.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/03/stories/2003030300450300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031020001133/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/03/stories/2003030300450300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2003 |title=Krishna's journey... with Ronu Majumdar |author=Anjana Rajan |location=Delhi |newspaper=The Hindu |date=3 Mar 2003 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref> He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984.<ref name=Award>{{cite web |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.com/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |accessdate=25 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216050006/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archivedate=16 February 2012 }}</ref>

Lal was a disciple of Sunder Prasadji. Along with being a Kathak dancer he was also a singer and would play Pakhvaj. He taught Kathak at the National Institute of Kathak Dance (Kathak Kendra), New Delhi. Lal's brother Pandit Devi Lal was also a renowned Kathak dancer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/02/25/stories/2008022550200100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304135118/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/02/25/stories/2008022550200100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2008 |title=On their dancing feat |author=Anjana Rajan |location=Delhi |newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 Feb 2008 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref> Devi Lal's wife Geetanjali Lal is also a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner (2007).<ref name="Award" /> Both brothers died at an early age.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/yw/2003/08/02/stories/2003080200590300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127062344/http://www.hindu.com/yw/2003/08/02/stories/2003080200590300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2013 |title=Drama in dance |author=Anjana Rajan |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2 Aug 2003 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref>

After Durga Lal's death his children and other art fraternity members organised the annual Pandit Durga Lal Memorial Festival. In 2021, the festival was in its 31st season.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=Bhanu|date=2021-02-25|title=The 31st Pt. Durgalal festival was all about dance|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/of-movements-and-emotions/article33933562.ece|access-date=2021-09-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Pandit Durgalal's disciples include renowned dancers Uma Dogra,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2011/02/11/stories/2011021150450200.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125123834/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2011/02/11/stories/2011021150450200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Repose in rhythm |author=Leela Venkataraman |newspaper=The Hindu |date=11 Feb 2011 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punemirror.in/article/63/20120426201204260229302963d0216e6/Step-up.html |title=Step Up |publisher=Pune Mirror |author=Kunal Ray |location=Pune |date=26 Apr 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120913175319/http://www.punemirror.in/article/63/20120426201204260229302963d0216e6/Step-up.html |archivedate=13 September 2012 }}</ref> Jayant Kastuar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/dec0708/sunday.html |title=A Cultural Voyager |publisher=Assam Tribune |accessdate=25 May 2012 |author=Pankaj Thakur |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120731045539/http://www.assamtribune.com/dec0708/sunday.html |archivedate=31 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/ms/2008/12/31/stories/2008123150100800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127005530/http://www.hindu.com/ms/2008/12/31/stories/2008123150100800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2009 |title=Rhythm reigned supreme |author=Rupa Srikanth |newspaper=The Hindu |date=31 Dec 2008 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref> and Mangala Bhatt amongst others. Nighat Chaodhry is Pandit Lal's notable student in Pakistan.

In memory of Lal, Dogra had arranged the "Pandit Durga Lal Samaroh" for more than 15 years as of 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005012801270200.htm&date=2005/01/28/&prd=fr& |title=In Praise of the Guru |author=Kavita Shukla |newspaper=The Hindu |date=28 Jan 2005 |accessdate= 25 May 2012}}</ref> She also made the documentary ''Nirvana Through Dance'' on him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/moving-stories/941700/0 |title=Moving stories |newspaper=Indian Express |date=26 Apr 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012}}</ref> Mangala Bhatt through her dance school Aakruti Kathak Kendra curates and organises "Antarang" every year in memory of Pt.Durga Lal Ji.

== Early life == Pandit Durgalal was born in 1948 in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan. He took his formal training in kathak from Pandit Sunder Prasad. He was the brother-in-law of a famous kathak dancer, Geetanjali Lal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Service |first1=Tribune News |title=Where words fall short |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/lifestyle/where-words-fall-short-56699 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref> He has two children, elder daughter Nupur and younger son Mohit. Nupur is a Kathak performer and vocalist and Mohit is a percussionist.<ref name="Family">{{cite news|author=Anjana Rajan|date=3 Sep 2010|title=Beyond familial bonds|newspaper=The Hindu|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/03/stories/2010090350350200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125082417/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/03/stories/2010090350350200.htm|archive-date=25 January 2013|accessdate=25 May 2012}}</ref>

== Awards == * Padma Shri Award * Sangeet Natak Akademi Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shloka Shetty - The Art Of Expression|url=http://www.theartofexpression.in/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=www.theartofexpression.in|language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lal, Durga}} Category:Indian male dancers Category:Rajasthani people Category:Kathak dancers Category:Musicians from Jaipur Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Category:1948 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Pakhavaj players Category:Date of birth missing Category:20th-century Indian drummers Category:Dancers from Rajasthan