Indian dancer, composer, singer and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance (died 2022)

Birju Maharaj

Birju Maharaj was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. He also practised Hindustani classical music and was a vocalist. After working along with his uncle, Shambhu Maharaj at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, he remained head of the latter, for several years, until his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, Kalashram, also in Delhi.

Born

1937

February 4

Died

2022

Era

1930s

Country

—

About

Birju, in brief

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

1937 Born
2022 Died

Also on February 4

What else happened on this day, through history

211 Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrelling sons, Caracalla and Geta, whom he had instructed to make peace.
960 Zhao Kuangyin declares himself Emperor Taizu of Song, ending the Later Zhou and beginning the Song dynasty.
1169 A strong earthquake strikes the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.
1454 Thirteen Years' War: The Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, sparking the Thirteen Years' War.

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The world in 1937

When Birju arrived

april 1 Aden becomes a British crown colony.
april 1 The Royal New Zealand Air Force is formed as an independent service.
april 12 Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft, at Rugby, England.
april 26 Spanish Civil War: Guernica, Spain, is bombed by the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria.

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Same-day contemporaries

Also born on February 4

Clint Black 1962– American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906–1945 German pastor and theologian (born 1906) Dru Drury 1725–1804 English entomologist and author (died 1804) Eddie Cochems 1877–1953 American football player and coach (born 1877) Eulalio Gutiérrez 1881– Mexican general and politician, President of Mexico (died 1939) Gabrielle Anwar 1970– English-American actress George A. Romero 1940–2017 American director and producer (died 2017) Gotse Delchev 1872–1903 Bulgarian and Macedonian revolutionary activist (died 1903) Hunter Biden 1970– American attorney and lobbyist

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Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1937

Abner Haynes 1937–2024 American football player (born 1937) Alain Badiou 1937– French philosopher and academic Alice Coltrane 1937–2007 American pianist and composer (died 2007) Barry Switzer 1937– American football player and coach Bill Cosby 1937– American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter Billy Meier 1937– Swiss author and photographer Bobby Charlton 1937–2023 English footballer and manager (died 2023) Carlos Lamarca 1937–1971 Brazilian captain (died 1971) Colin Powell 1937–2021 American general and politician, 65th United States Secretary of State (died 2021)

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More to explore

Birju's birthday February 4 Birju's zodiac Aquarius When Birju arrived 1937