Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away early on Monday, a member of his family said on Monday. He was 83.
The Kathak exponent, one of India’s best-known artistes, had been suffering from a kidney ailment and was under dialysis treatment. “He probably died of a cardiac arrest,” his granddaughter said.
“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. “We took him to a hospital immediately but we could not save him,” she said
Pandit Birju Maharaj was an exponent of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow. Pandit Birju Maharaj received India’s second-highest civil honour, the Padma Vobhushan, in 1984 for his contributions in the field of dance.
