Legendary Kathak dancer and teacher Pandit Birju Maharaj died early Monday morning at his residence in Delhi. He would have celebrated his 84th birthday on February 4.
One of his most famous students, Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit shared a picture with him and tweeted as she paid her respects to her late guru. “He was a legend but had a child-like innocence. He was my guru but also my friend. He taught me the intricacies of dance and Abhinay but never failed to make me laugh at his funny anecdotes. He has left behind grieving fans and students but also left a legacy we will all carry forward. Thank you Maharajji for everything you taught me in dance along with humility, elegance, and grace,” she wrote in a series of tweets.
The late dance guru’s granddaughter told PTI that “old music” was playing in the house when he experienced uneven breathing, perhaps due to cardiac arrest. “He was laughing and smiling in his last moments,” Ragini said.
Maharaj also wrote under the pen-name Brijshyam, was a master vocalist in thumri, and also an instrumentalist. Born as Brijmohan Nath Mishra, Birju Maharaj, stylised story-telling with Kathak.
Born in the house of Kathak exponent Jagannath Maharaj, better known as Acchan Maharaj, Birju Maharaj started performing at the early age of seven. He trained under his father and guru Acchan Maharaj and uncles Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj. He moved to the national capital at the age of 13 and started teaching Kathak at the Sangeet Bharti, soon after his father died.
He was also a teacher at Delhi’s Bharatiya Kala Kendra, and at the Kathak Kendra (of the Sangeet Natak Akademi). Later, Birju Maharaj opened his own dance school titled Kalashram.