Brijmohan Nath Mishra, famously known as Birju Maharaj, the Maharaj of kathak, is one of India’s most well known and favourite dancers. He comes from a family of kathak dancers who were all very famous during their times. He started learning kathak from the tender age of 4 and started performing from the age of 7. His Guru was his father Jagannath Mishra aka Acchan Maharaj. He was a child prodigy and started teaching kathak at the young age of 13. Birju Maharaj is not just a dancer but a sensation. His lifetime is considered as an era in the field of kathak. He is not only a wonderful dancer but also a spectacular teacher, Hindustani musician and Tabla Vidwan. He has composed many songs not only for the classical dance field but also for the film industry. Birju Maharaj ji has taught and choreographed kathak for dance pieces in movies like Vishwaroopam and Bajirao Mastani for which he received the prestigious Filmfare award. He is addressed as PANDIT Birju Maharaj and has received a well deserved Padma Vibhushan in the year 1983 for his contribution to the artform. After retiring from Bharatiya Kala Kendra, he started his own dance school Kalashram in 1988. Even at the age of 78, he continued to perform on stage, inspiring the youth of today to become better dancers. Being such a famous artist and being well known across the globe has never made him arrogant. He was one of the most down to earth and gentle individual, loved and respected by everyone. His unfortunate demise in January 2022 has come as a great shock to all. His death is loss to not only to the dancing world but for the Indian nation as a whole. However, he will always live through his teachings and in the heart of every kathak dancer.

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 2022-01-20 16:00:00
 Bhavna WR