New Delhi: Birju Maharaj, a veteran of classical Indian dance and one of the country's most famous artists, passed away on Monday. He was 83 years old.
Maharaj was suffering from kidney ailment and was undergoing dialysis and possibly died of cardiac arrest, his granddaughter Ragini Maharaj told Press Trust of India news agency.
Known as Maharaj-ji by many of his admirers, he was considered the epitome of the Kathak form of Indian classical dance and was the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.
He was born into a family of renowned Kathak dancers and trained under his uncle and father, Achan Maharaj, before giving his first performance at the age of 7.
Kathak uses dance and facial expressions to help tell a story, with many dances inspired by ancient Indian epics.
Maharaj was known for his animated facial expressions and light-hearted movements, as well as the sound of bells around his ankles. He often drew inspiration from his own life in his performances and was an accomplished storyteller.
He was also an acclaimed teacher of Kathak and taught students in some of the most prominent dance institutes of the country. In the late 1990s, Maharaj opened his own dance school, Kalashran, in the capital New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet that he was "deeply saddened" and that his death was "an irreparable loss to the entire art world".
"Very few actors have been equally good as performer and teacher. Maharajji certainly touched new heights in both the roles," Indian classical dancer Geeta Chandran posted on Facebook. Historic in the past, and will certainly be carried forward by his wonderful tribe of disciples and students."
“We have lost a unique institution in the field of performing arts. He has influenced many generations with his talent,” said singer Adnan Sami.
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