Imagine stepping into a world where every gesture, every glance, and every footfall tells a story. This is the world that Pandit Birju Maharaj created through his mastery of Kathak, a classical Indian dance form. He was born as Brijmohan Nath Mishra on Feb. 4, 1938, in the culturally blessed city of Varanasi (Banaras), India with deep roots in rhythmic wealth and musical tales from Kalka Bindadin Gharana (school) Lucknow Dhrupad since his early childhood days.
Dancing From a Young Age – Much Greatness
His father, Achhan Maharaj, began Pandit Birju Maharaj foraying into the art of Kathak from the moment he could stand on two feet! His home was a sanctuary of dance and music, where the young Pandit Birju absorbed the nuances of Kathak like a sponge. It was a profound loss when Pandit Birju’s father passed away suddenly when he was only nine years old. Still, he continued training with his uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, who were equally illustrious in their craft.
Blossoming Into a Maestro
Perhaps at the age of seven, the Pandit Birju Maharaj was on the stage, carrying the viewer’s attention with expressive and the flexibility of body movements. He became very popular when he became the director of Sangeet Bharati, New Delhi, and then was appointed as the Director of Kathak Kendra, a national-level institution for this kind of dance. From him the institute bloomed and many famous Kathak dancers were moulded.
Breathing New Life Into Tradition
Another aspect that is quite noteworthy about Pandit Birju Maharaj as pertains to the persona of Kathak, is that, he was always changing it. He presented many dance dramas like Malti Madhav, Kumar Sambhav, Phag Bahar, and many more that showed the styles to the new generation. The type of choreography that was in his performance was a blend between pure Kathak and fusion and this they were easily understood by the ordinary members of the public in their attempt at interpreting the moves dance.
Cross-Cultural Collaborations
Birju Maharaj was as great innovator in Indian Kathak as well as on the film screen. Indian cinema also embraced him and he introduced Kathak dance in Bollywood with the fabulous dance scenes in the movies like ‘Devdas,’ ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ and ‘Vishwaroopam.’
Celebrating a Legend
Throughout his life, Birju Maharaj was honored with numerous awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 1986. He also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman, among many others. These accolades were a testament to his immense talent and contributions to the arts.
A Soulful Journey
Even though the Maestro was well-known, Pandit Birju Maharaj was a very grounded person and had not lost touch with the true meaning of the art of dance. He frequently described his feelings when performing on stage, when dance for him seemed to be the closest to prayer, an offering of the soul.