Eminent painter Dinanath Pathy passes away

Bhubaneswar: Eminent painter, art researcher, historian and writer Dinanath Pathy died here on Monday. He was 74. His last rites were performed with full state honours at Garabadu crematorium in the city.
Known as the pioneer of the art movement in the state, Pathy was instrumental in taking Odisha's art to a global platform through his paintings, writings and teachings.
Pathy started his career as a theatre curtain painter and a make-up boy. He, later, graduated from Government College of Arts and Crafts, Khallikote. He also studied at the Utkal University and Visva Bharati, Santiniketan and worked as a curator of arts and crafts at the Odisha State Museum.
Pathy was the founder principal of the prestigious B K College of Arts and Crafts, Bhubaneswar, which gave the state many dynamic and contemporary artists.
"No one can fill the vacuum left by him. Nor can anyone ever surpass what he has done to popularize Odisha's art and artists outside the state. He was supposed to attend an art conclave on Monday evening," said his student and acclaimed artist Ramahari Jena.
Pathy was the secretary of National Academy of Art and Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, and president of Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneswar.
He collaborated with director Emeritus, Museum Reitberg Zurich, Eberhard Fischer for over 30 years and worked with him to make Odisha's art stand out in the world.
Earlier, Pathy served as director of Alice Boner Institute, Varanasi.
He was also the chairman of Ila Panda Centre for Arts that organised Odisha Art Conclave on Monday evening.