Lacchu Maharaj: All you need to know about his life, family, & journey

Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj, professionally known as Lacchu Maharaj, was an Indian classical dancer, composer, and classical singer. Born in Lucknow, Lacchu Maharaj is one of the exponential figures in Indian Kathak dance all over the world. He has a firm grasp over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, and Ghazals. He was also a master in playing the Tabla. He first performed when he was 7 years old. He has also received several awards.

Early Life

Introduced to Kathak at an early age, Lacchu Maharaj constantly attempted to master the art. He received extensive training from his father Pandit Achhan Maharaj. In 1947, Birju lost his father in an unfortunate event. He then moved to Bombay. At the age of thirteen, he was invited to Delhi to teach at Sangeet Bharati. He then continued his ventures in Delhi.

Birju Maharaj has two sons and three daughters. Among his five children, Deepak Maharaj, Jai Kishan Maharaj, and Mamta Maharaj are prominent Kathak dancers. His wife passed away fifteen years ago. Birju was a man with immense knowledge. He also ate a particular diet. This included vegetables, dal, rice, and roti. Although he was considered among the elites in Kathak, Birju liked to stay humble and considered himself as someone who was constantly learning no matter how well he had mastered the art.

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Music and Passion

Birju always considered the dance form spiritual and as a connection with god. He was a devotee of Lord Krishna. He has also won several honours and awards throughout his life. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1986. He also held the Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He was the founder of Kathak Kendra initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government in Lucknow. Birju Maharaj has also made various contributions and performed in several countries making people aware of his dance style. He also rejected the Padma Shri as he thought that the appreciation from the audience was enough of an honour for him. He passed away in July 2016 in Varanasi at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness.

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