Dusk - Sudiptaa Bhattacharya The sky, Change its form. I sit alone, On a roof by norm. Just as a ritual, As they fly casual. They are the birds, That passed, bidding adieu, To the day.
On 17th January 2022, the Kathak world underwent a great loss through the demise of the Great Kathak Maestro Birju Maharaj ji, who has been revered with the Second Civilian Award Padma Vibhushan. Though he was ailing with Kidney disease but he passed away due to heart attack. His original name is Brijmohan Mishra, but is well known with the name Birju Maharaj. The followers and disciples addresses him as Maharaj ji. He is initially from Lucknow and then shifted to Delhi. Out of the three traditional Gharanas of Kathak, Lucknow, Jaipur and Benaras, Maharaj ji is the exponent of the famous Lucknow "Kalka Bindadin" Gharana. Maharaj Ji's ancestors were the court dancers of the Lucknow court. His father Achchan Maharaj was an well known court dancer. Even Maharaj ji in his early childhood danced in the King's court. Due to the early demise of his father Maharaja ji learner Kathak mostly from his two uncles Sambhu Maharaj and Lachchu Maharaj (who used to live in Bombay an...