Birju Maharaj

Pandit Birju Maharaj is perhaps the foremost exponents of the country"s Kathak dancers. He is a direct descendant of a line of dancers who have been intimately linked with the city and culture of Lucknow for two centuries; it was here that this unique style of kathak was born,where it evolved, and where it grew to become the best-known and most pervasive of the various regional styles of this genre. Son of well-known Achchan Maharaj and nephew and student of Shambhu Maharaj, Birju Maharaj made his mark in the arena when he received the coveted Sangeet Natak Akademi award at the age of 28.

He studied with his father until the latter"s death in 1947. Thereafter he continued his training with his uncles, and not surprisingly he draws together in his own dance style the strengths of each: from his father he claims to have inherited the suppleness of the torso and chest, the play of the neck, head, and face, the precision of the footwork, and the fullness of movement; from Lacchu Maharaj he learned the stylized chals of the gat and the fluidity of movement; from Shambhu Maharaj he adopted the power of movement and the force needed to dance paran. In his own words, Birju Maharaj has likened Lacchu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj to the moon and the sun, and Acchan Maharaj the sky. Combined they form his universe

This exponent of the Lucknow gharana has a suitably old-world charm and his personal simplicity endear him to everyone. But the magic comes from within, filtered through an astounding talent and decades of hard work. Birju Maharaj has many faces - he is a shy gopi, waiting for her lover; he is a naughty child, stealing butter; he is a valiant warrior-king, vanquishing his enemies in battle; he is God himself, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient.

In 1986, he was awarded the prestigious "Padma Bibhushan" by the government of India. At present, Birju Maharaj heads the teaching faculty at Delhi"s Kathak Kendra.

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