Pandit Birju Maharaj, legendary Kathak dancer and Padma Vibhushan awardee, dies at 83

Legendary Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj , who took the traditional Indian dance form to the world, died at his home here in the early hours of Monday, his granddaughter said. He would have been 84 next month. Maharaj-ji, as he was popularly known, died surrounded by his family and disciples. They were playing antakshari’ after dinner when he suddenly took ill, Ragini Maharaj told PTI. Birju Maharaj, one of India’s best known and most loved artistes, was from Lucknow’s Kalka-Bindadin Gharana. He is survived by five children, three daughters and two sons, and five grandchildren. He had been suffering from a kidney ailment and was under dialysis treatment for the last month due to high diabetes. He probably died of a cardiac arrest, his granddaughter said. “He was with us when this happened. He had his dinner and we were playing antakshari’ because he loved old music. He was lying down and suddenly his breathing became uneven. We think it was cardiac arrest as he was also a heart patient. “This happened between 12.15 and 12.30 am. It must have been just a minute or so. We rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, we could not save him. He died before reaching the hospital,” Ragini said Ragini, a Kathak dancer herself, said the only solace for the family is that he did not suffer too much in his last moments. “Two of his disciples and his two granddaughters, my younger sister Yasyashashwini and me, were with him when this happened. He was laughing and smiling in his last moments,” she said. Condolences poured in as news of the death of the Kathak maestro, who would have been 84 on February 4, came in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his death is an “irreparable loss” to the entire art world. “Deeply saddened by the demise of Pandit Birju Maharaj ji, who gave Indian dance a special recognition world over. His passing is an irreparable loss to the entire art world. My condolences to his family and fans in this hour of grief,” the prime minister said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the artiste as a “legend of performing arts”. Fondly called Pandit-ji or Maharaj-ji by his disciples and legions of followers, he had said the younger generation has many more opportunities to learn than in his time.