Quick Facts
Biography
Som Dutt Battu (born 11 April 1938) is a Shimla-based Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. He was a winner of the civilian honour of Himachal Gaurav. He is also a member of Empanelment Committee for Hindustani Music on I.C.C.R. New Delhi. He is renowned composer, musicologist, performer in classical, light classical, light and devotional music including Sufi music.
Early life
Born in the family of Musicians, Pandit Som Dutt Battu was initiated to the Hindustani Vocal Music since his childhood by his father Pandit Ram Lal Battu, a follower of Shyam Chaurasi Gharana. Khuswant Singh renowned thinker acknowledge him as one of the pillar of Patiala Gharana.
Musical training
He received training in music from Pandit Kunj Lal Sharma, a disciple of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. He also learnt the techniques of the Gayaki of Patiala Gharana from Pandit Kundan Lal Sharma a noted disciple of Ustad Ashique Ali Khan, an illustrious son of ‘Tan kaptaan’ Ustad Fateh Ali Khan Saheb. Pandit Som Dutt Battu is a direct descendant of Patiala Gharana. He is proud follower of the lineage of the great Masters of Patiala Gharana following the norms of its Gayaki.
The Hindustan Times:”Only Bhangra is not the culture of Punjab- The Punjabi Academy Delhi is doing lot of research work on Gharanas of Punjab like Patiala, Shamchaurasi, Talwandi, and Kapurthala and they have invited top most musicians of the country to present their music like, Prof. Som Dutt Battu in a concert at India Habitat Centre.”... Khuswant Singh.
Indian Express: “Three Gharanas in one:: With a many pronged approach to music, Som Dutt Battu comes on a stage as a performer with a difference Having learnt from gurus of distinction from the school of patiala, Kirana and Indore gharanas, he keeps each of them distinctly recognizable. For long an academic, he comes on the performance stage with a unique capacity of enunciating his musical innuendos.”...Shubhra Majumdar.
Service to the Nation
Composed the Martial Tune for the Indian Army Corps of Signals which has been adopted as its Corps song abandoning the old British Tune. The lyrics have been composed by Anand Bakshi renowned film lyricist. The band of the Corps of Signals often displays this tune on Republic Day Retreat function and at Corps of Signals functions.
Writer
Indian Institute of Advanced Studies one of the premier center for research in Humanities and Social Sciences published ‘MAN AND MUSIC IN INDIA’ in the year 1992, in this work research papers of ten top musicologist of the country have been selected for publication, his work included in the volume.
Awards
- Life Time Achievement and Param Sabhayachar Samman Award by Punjabi Academy New Delhi, Government of Delhi.
- Punjab Sangeet Rattan Award.