Eighty three years ago, from the depths of ancient mountains, the flow appeared.
Throughout the journey through the valley and the passed forest, the season witnessed, from the land and living things that were maintained, this little tributary grew into a dynamic and dynamic river.
My teacher, Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji, is this river who is now joining the ocean of eternity.
It is a river that leaves many tributaries by inspiring, motivating and giving dance gifts to many artists throughout the world.
Birth of Brijmohan Mishra into Kalka-Bindadeen Gharana who was famous for Kathak, who had many great artists who took it, he was a magical child who later became a legend.
Deep immersion in the form, intelligent observation of nature / humanity and expansive imagination takes Kathak outside its geographical context and takes it to the center of the stage, not only in India but globally as a classical art form of the highest caliber.
He not only changed the repertoire of Kathak but his presentation, pedagogy, for life and had not remained intact.
Even though the dance itself was the tradition he inherited from his family, he created ‘at this time’.
But every life experience, but minutes, given new meaning in the most deep dance.
Let me tell anecdot that shows you what I mean by actively live at this time.
I remember super excited when he told me that I would be part of the Indian Festival of England in 1982.
I practiced and practiced what choreography was wearing, and finally that day arrived.
I stood on the wings, waiting for me to get into a big London theater when Maharaj Ji danced from the stage and to the wings to tell us, “Cut this Tukda, go for the last part.” And then he returned to the stage! He felt the pulse of the audience, and felt the need to improvise in sports.
He always evolved and changed.
As a student, he became the wind and we only followed where the wind blew, and suddenly the new world appeared.
How can someone pay homage to Maharaj Ji? He is not only a teacher and dancer but also the choreographer (Devdas, Bajirao Mastani and many others), singers, percussion players, and composers.
If it’s not pretty astounding, he even writes poetry and painted! He was awarded many awards throughout the world, including the prestigious Vibhushan Padma.
However, all this awards, dim compared to their great art.
Every breath he took sank in dancing, his body, mind and one heart with his bell resonance.
I remember how Maharaj Ji likes to hold the impromptu Baithaks in the class where he will sing and do Abhinaya, Regale us with a joke (he has a sense of humor that is so great) and also expression of certain scary expression with only his eyes.
It turned his face and suddenly saw anger and crime.
Even though I know it will come, I will still shout in fear.
The whole class will then laugh at a silly fear girl from Ahmedabad.
How about the greatness of a legendary show artist like Maharaj Ji resonates for centuries? However, the dance is intangible, for a moment, something that someone cannot hold.
Radiant art resonance Maharaj Ji will live through many tributaries whom he gives birth and maintains.
Many of us will forever appreciate the gift of dances that he gave us.
My deepest pranam and most respect.
Aditi Mangaldas is a dancer and choreographer Kathak.