https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Birju_MaharajBirju Maharaj - Revision history2026-07-31T16:17:39ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Birju_Maharaj&diff=336325&oldid=prevUpdateBot at 16:45, 1 July 20222022-07-01T16:45:00Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian dancer, singer, and composer (1938–2022)}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox musical artist<br />
| honorific_prefix = <br />
| name = Birju Maharaj<br />
| image = Pandit Birju Maharaj.jpg<br />
| caption = Maharaj performing in [[Pune]], April 2012<br />
| birth_name = Brijmohan Nath Mishra<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1938|02|04}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]], [[United Provinces (1937-50)|United Provinces]], [[British Raj]]<br>{{small|(present-day [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]], [[Allahabad]] District, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)}}<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2022|01|16|1938|02|04}}<br />
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Dance]]r|[[Composer]]|[[Singer]]}}<br />
| years_active = 1951–2016<br />
| genre = [[Hindustani classical music|Indian classical]]<br />
| instrument = <br />
| label = <br />
| associated_acts = <br />
| website = {{URL|birjumaharaj-kalashram.com|Webpage}}<br />
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes<br />
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]<br />
| relatives = {{ubl|<br />
Acchan Maharaj (father) | [[Shambhu Maharaj]] (uncle)|[[Lachhu Maharaj]] (uncle)}}<br />
}}}}<br />
<br />
'''Pandit Birju Maharaj''' (born '''Brijmohan Nath Mishra'''; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer and exponent of the [[Lucknow gharana|Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana]] of [[Kathak]] dance in India. He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of [[Kathak]] dancers, which includes his two uncles, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and [[Lachhu Maharaj]], and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. He also practised [[Hindustani classical music]] and was a vocalist.<ref name=enc>{{cite book|last=Kaui|first=Banotsarg-Boghaz |editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfyA327hG8EC&q=Kathak+Kendra&pg=PA915|year=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing|isbn=81-7755-257-0|page=198}}</ref> After working along with his uncle, [[Shambhu Maharaj]] at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the [[Kathak Kendra]], [[New Delhi]], he remained head of the latter, for several years, till his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi.<ref>[[#Ma|Massey, p. 29]]</ref><br />
<br />
Birju Maharaj was a recipient of the [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian honor, in 1986.<br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
Maharaj was born Brijmohan Nath Mishra, on 4 February 1937<ref>{{cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=How Pandit Birju Maharaj always stayed alive to sights, sounds, and sentiments of the present-Art-and-culture News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/how-pandit-birju-maharaj-always-stayed-alive-to-sights-sounds-and-sentiments-of-the-present-10295401.html|access-date=19 January 2022|website=Firstpost|language=en}}</ref> into a [[Hindu]] [[Brahmin]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/dancing-her-way-through-life-grooming-others-too/story-AX10uL5xyCYFD0h90NUNOM.html|title = Dancing her way through life & grooming others too|date = 29 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/pt-birju-maharaj.html | title=Pt. Birju Maharaj }}</ref> family at [[Handia, Uttar Pradesh|Handia]] of [[Allahabad]] district. His father was the Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of [[Lucknow gharana]] and the Kalka-Bindadin family in Lucknow.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> His father served as the court dancer in [[Raigarh State|Raigarh]] princely state.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=All Time Great Classical Dancers - Achchan Maharaj|url=https://maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com/achchan-maharaj.html|access-date=19 January 2022|website=maestroesclassicaldancers.weebly.com}}</ref> Maharaj started dancing early at the age of four, and was trained by his uncles, [[Lachhu Maharaj]] and [[Shambhu Maharaj]] and his father. He started his performances first at his father's concerts before performing solo at the age of seven in West Bengal.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="life">{{cite web|author=Buddhiraja, Sunita|title=Birju Maharaj – Kathak personified|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210171521/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar072004/sh6.asp|archive-date=10 December 2004|access-date=25 March 2007|work=Deccan Herald}}<br />
</ref> His father died when Maharaj was nine.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=18 January 2022|title=Pt Birju Maharaj, storyteller who blurred gender norms to become one of the foremost masters of Kathak, passes away at 83|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/legendary-kathak-dancer-birju-maharaj-dead-7727026/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the age of thirteen, at the Sangeet Bharti in [[New Delhi]]. He then taught at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, and at the [[Kathak Kendra]] (a unit of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]) where he was Head of Faculty, and director, retiring in 1998<ref name="retires">{{cite web |title=Birju Maharaj retires |publisher=Indian Express |author=Bhattacharya, Santwana |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980610/16151124.html |access-date=25 March 2007}}<br />
</ref> after which he opened his own dance school, ''Kalashram'', also in Delhi.<ref name=":1" /> <br />
<br />
In addition to performing the [[Kathak]] dance form, he also brought along knowledge of [[Hindustani classical music]] and [[Percussion instrument|percussion instruments]]. He was noted to have been able to sing the ''[[thumri]]'' while dancing to it, and also playing instruments like the ''[[tabla]]'' and the ''[[dholak]]''. His Kathak performances in addition to mythological stories had contemporary elements including stories from daily life and social issues being communicated by way of the dance.<ref name=":1" /> His ''ginti ki tihaais'' ({{Translation|a charged and percussive phrase, repeated thrice to end with explosive effect}}) were noted to have been studied by Kathak students. He collaborated with other artists including the tabla player [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], and singers [[Rajan and Sajan Mishra]].<ref name=":1" /> Some of his students included [[Saswati Sen|Priti Singh, Saswati Sen]], [[Aditi Mangaldas]], and [[Nisha Mahajan]].<ref name=":1" /><br />
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Maharaj also choreographed and composed music for many Indian movies. Some of the performances that he choreographed included for Saswati Sen in [[Satyajit Ray]]'s ''[[The Chess Players (film)|Shatranj ke Khiladi]]'' (1977), [[Madhuri Dixit]] in ''[[Dil To Pagal Hai]]'' (1997) and [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|''Devdas'']] (2002), [[Kamal Haasan]] in ''[[Vishwaroopam]]'' (2012), [[Deepika Padukone]] in ''[[Bajirao Mastani]]'' (2015) and [[Alia Bhatt]] in ''[[Kalank]]'' (2019).<ref name=":1" /> His choreography for Kamal Hassan in ''Vishwaroopam'' won him the [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] in 2012,<ref name="60thaward" /> while his choreography for Deepika Padukone in ''Bajirao Mastani'' won him a [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography]] in 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Birju Maharaj Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Birju Maharaj {{!}} Times of India Entertainment|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Birju-Maharaj/awards|access-date=19 January 2022|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref><br />
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Maharaj was one of the youngest artists to receive the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], when he received the award at the age of 28. He also received the [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian award, in 1986.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 January 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/pandit-birju-maharaj-passes-away-pictorial-tribute-legendary-kathak-maestro-7727106/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> <br />
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==Personal life==<br />
Maharaj was married and had five children<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 January 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: A pictorial tribute to the legendary Kathak maestro|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/pandit-birju-maharaj-passes-away-pictorial-tribute-legendary-kathak-maestro-7727106/|access-date=19 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> (2 sons and 3 daughters). In later life, Maharaj had [[kidney disease]] and [[diabetes]], and received [[dialysis]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=PTI|date=17 January 2022|title=Birju Maharaj, legendary Kathak dancer, dies at 84|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/birju-maharaj-legendary-kathak-dancer-dies-at-84/article38280797.ece|access-date=17 January 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He died from a heart attack at his residence in Delhi, on 16 January 2022, less than a month before his 84th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj, Legendary Kathak Dancer, Dies At 84|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pandit-birju-maharaj-legendary-kathak-dancer-dies-of-heart-attack-at-the-age-of-84-2711892|access-date=18 January 2022|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><br />
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== Controversy ==<br />
After his death, several Kathak performers accused Maharaj of sexual abuse. Some of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Prajakta|date=2022-01-27|title=Indie Journal {{!}} Several sexual harassment allegations rock the world of Kathak|url=https://www.indiejournal.in/article/several-sexual-harassment-allegations-rock-the-world-of-kathak|access-date=2022-01-29|website=IndieJournal|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|date=January 25, 2022|title=Pandit Birju Maharaj MeToo Allegations Surface On Social Media Post His Death|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/pandit-birju-maharaj-metoo-allegations-on-social-media/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=SheThePeople.TV|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Srikanth|first=Kavya|date=January 21, 2022|title=The Doyen of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj|url=https://www.thejuggernaut.com/pandit-birju-maharaj-indian-kathak-dancer-obituary|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Juggernaut|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why did #MeToo not reach the Indian classical arts?|url=https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/why-did-metoo-not-reach-the-indian-classical-arts-23211953|access-date=2022-01-30|website=mid-day.com|date=30 January 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==Awards and honours==<br />
* 1964 - [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
* 1986 - [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref name="Off" /><br />
* 1986 - Nritya Choodamani Award by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://krishnaganasabha.org/kgs_old/nrityachoo.html |title=Nritya Choodamani Awardees List |website=Sri Krishna Gana Sabha |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><br />
* 1987 - [[Kalidas Samman]]<br />
* 2002 - [[Lata Mangeshkar]] Puraskar<ref name="CI">{{Cite web |url=https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-dance/dancers/pandit-birju-maharaj.html |title=Pandit Birju Maharaj |website=www.culturalindia.net |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><br />
* [[Honorary doctorate]] from [[Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya]]<ref name="CI" /><ref name="Off">{{Cite web |url=http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/the-dancer.html |title=The Dancer |website=Official website |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><br />
* Honorary doctorate from [[Banaras Hindu University]]<ref name="CI" /><br />
* Sangam Kala Award<ref name="CI" /><br />
* Bharat Muni Sammaan<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Art/Hema-Malini-selected-for-Bharat-Muni-Samman/Article1-972233.aspx |title=Hema Malini selected for Bharat Muni Samman – Hindustan Times |work=hindustantimes.com |year=2012 |quote=The earlier recipients are Thankamani Kutty, Pandit Birju Maharaj, |access-date=28 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213233446/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Art/Hema-Malini-selected-for-Bharat-Muni-Samman/Article1-972233.aspx |archive-date=13 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://wonderwoman.intoday.in/story/hema-malini-receives-bharat-muni-samman/1/102372.html |title=Hema Malini receives Bharat Muni Samman: Wonder Woman – Who are you today? |work=wonderwoman.intoday.in |year=2012|quote=The earlier recipients are Thankamani Kutty (Bharatanatyam), Pandit Birju Maharaj (kathak), |access-date=28 December 2012}}</ref><br />
* Andhra Ratna<ref name="Off" /><br />
* Nritya Vilas Award<ref name="Off" /><br />
* Adharshila Shikhar Samman<ref name="Off" /><br />
* Soviet Land [[Jawaharlal Nehru|Nehru]] Award<ref name="Off" /><br />
* National Nritya Shiromani Award<ref name="Off" /><br />
* [[Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award]]<ref name="Off" /><br />
===Film ===<br />
<br />
* 2012 - [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Unnai Kaanaathu'' ([[Vishwaroopam]])<ref name="60thaward">{{cite press release|title=60th National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=18 March 2013}}</ref><br />
* 2016 - [[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography]] for ''Mohe Rang Do Laal'' ([[Bajirao Mastani]])<ref name=":2" /><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[List of Kathak dancers]]<br />
* [[Māni Mādhava Chākyār]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Massey|first=Reginald |title=India's kathak dance, past present, future |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yFXkPk3zMeYC&q=Kathak+Kendra&pg=RA1-PA29|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=81-7017-374-4|ref=Ma}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category|Birju Maharaj}}<br />
* [http://www.birjumaharaj-kalashram.com/ Pandit Birju Maharaj] (Official Website)<br />
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126163657/http://rediff.com/millenni/birju.htm |date=26 November 2009 |title=Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj on top Indian dancers }}<br />
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{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}<br />
{{SangeetNatakAkademiFellowship}}<br />
{{National Film Award Best Choreography}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Birju}}<br />
[[Category:1938 births]]<br />
[[Category:2022 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in arts]]<br />
[[Category:Kathak exponents]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]<br />
[[Category:Indian choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Artists from Lucknow]]<br />
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Dancers from Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Educators from Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]<br />
[[Category:Best Choreography National Film Award winners]]</div>UpdateBot