Shambhu Maharaj

Pandit Shambhu Maharaj (1910 – November 4, 1970) was a celebrated Guru of the Lucknow "Gharana" (school) of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. He was born in Lucknow. His actual name is Shambhunath Mishra. He was the youngest son of Kalkaprasad Maharaj. He received his training from his father, uncle Bindadin Maharaj and his elder brother Achchan Maharaj. He learned classical vocal music from Ustad Rahimuddin Khan. In 1952, he joined the Bharatiya Kala Kendra (later, Kathak Kendra), New Delhi. He became the head of the Dance (Kathak) department. He was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967 and the Padmashri in 1956. He had two sons, Krishnamohan and Rammohan and a daughter, Rameshwari. Amongst his pupils, the most noted exponents of Kathak are his nephew Birju Maharaj, Kumudini Lakhia, Damayanti Joshi, Bharati Gupta, and Rina Singha. [Singha, R. and Massey R. (1967) "Indian Dances, Their History and Growth", Faber and Faber, London, p.232]

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