Mukund Lath

🪔 About

Mukund Lath (1937-2020) was a distinguished Indian scholar and cultural historian, widely recognized for his profound contributions to the understanding of Indian music, dance, aesthetics, and culture. Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, on October 9, 1937, Lath pursued a comprehensive academic journey, earning a BA Hons in English literature from the University of Delhi and an MA in Sanskrit literature from Jadavpur University in 1965. His deep interest in the performing arts led him to undertake research on 'Dattilam', an ancient Indian music treatise, at the Institute for Comparative Music Studies and Documentation in West Berlin, culminating in a PhD from Delhi University in 1976. Beyond his academic pursuits, Lath also received rigorous training in classical music. He studied under Pandit Maniram and Ramesh Chakravarti between 1966 and 1968, and later became a disciple of the legendary Pandit Jasraj in the Khayal Mewat Gharana, often accompanying him on concert tours. His professional career began in 1973 at the University of Rajasthan, where he served in the Department of History and Indian Culture until his retirement in 1997. Lath's scholarly influence extended globally, as he held visiting faculty positions at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University of Bamberg, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Lath authored numerous influential books and articles, including "A Study of Dattilam," "Transformation as Creation," "Hindi Padavali of Namdev," and "The Ardhakathanaka - Half A Tale." He was particularly noted for his insights into the 'Natya Shastra', a foundational Sanskrit treatise on performing arts, making its ancient wisdom relevant to contemporary discourse. His work is credited with pioneering a new approach to cultural history, exploring the historical evolution of musical instruments like the Tanpura and the significance of the Sarangi in Indian concerts. Mukund Lath passed away on August 6, 2020. Awards & Honours: Shankar Puraskar (2000), Naresh Mehta Vangmaya Puraskar (2003), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2008), Padma Shri (2010), Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) (2011).