BIRJU MAHARAJ
He is like a God to me and so many other students of Kathak.
Who after the current gurus will bear the torch of gharanas. Guru Birju Maharaj, guru Vemapti chinna satyam, Dhananjay(s), Respected Sitara Devi, apart from them there are non gharanedar gurus, Dr Padma Subramaniam, Maya Rao, Damyanti Joshi, Guru Kumudni Lakhia, Rhoni Bhate.
I think instead of listing separately as gharanedar and non gharanedar gurus will not be fair enough. Since in our(Indian) traditional education system the gharana is handed down to the disciple by the gurus. There is no compulsion for a guru to choose his kith and kin as successor. The most promising student gets the seat "gaddi". And it has been practiced since ages. I think this has helped in keeping our tradition of music(Arts) alive for so many centuries. The period has continuously seen the invaders from all sides. from length to breadth of this subcontinent.
Often we are told that "one land" "One Nation" Theory is very recent in India. Earlier this land was full of fights between small kingdoms without any idea of our motherland or so to say India as a one nation. In the east the Nagas, forces from China, Tibet Burma etc were mingling with the AHOM kingdoms in Assam and in Manipur. Down south has seen the import from Europe, Africa, and from east also. Christian, Jew, Arabic, Persian Eastern cultures came to our southern shores. In the west we hear that even from far land of greek, arabic and mangols came to our nation. The HUN, KUSHAN, YAMAN etc. Thereby the point is that even then the tradition of music has been kept live in this nation which always refers to the "Sage Bharat" or the Natya Shastra or the fourth VED. This means the lineage has been there with minor ups and down. And it could have only been made possible through this "GURU SHISHYA parampara" teacher and student tradition.
After Independence all broke loose. The Ethics and tradition got full freedom. Thus a student from Delhi learns the dance of Manipur and a student of Punjab can learn the arts and dance of Keral and vice e versa. Now we have satellite gurukuls (schools). schools run in USA or far away lands on the name of guru living in Tamil Nadu. The Guru has become very mobile, reaching far away lands for many months of a year. Various workshops are held.
During the dark ages, of 1000 to 1900 AD, (if I am permitted to say so) all credit goes to the community looked down upon by the civilized community, the dancer community, who has kept alive this art of music and dance of this land through those hard times. No one can deny this aspect. It is true from Jammu Kashmir to the Kanya kumari and from Gandhar to the Manipur. ALL places must be full of such stories and names and even Palaces where all the saga had been enacted. Most of the palaces and the HISTORY is known to us due to the contribution of this community. I am saying so because in palaces these women lived inside the walls and their progeny worked in the palaces itself thereby contributing in the workforce also. not only in the arts.
These were known as Devdasi, MAHARI (attached to Temples of Orissa), Rajdasi, Tawaif Courtesan, Kalavantalu, Kalavant, natchini, domni, Derewali, Kanchani, Ganika, etc etc
Few ladies who became stalwarts of classical Hindustani Music were from Gomantak samaj, a community who lived in and around Goa, Karnataka and Maharastra. I read somewhere women of community called as AngVastram (Hubli, Dharwad etc places)? I mean what kind of society of men was it?
These ladies must be respected for what they have gifted us. It is due to them we have inherited this rich heritage. many of such ladies became famous as classical singers.
there a program on Dance in doordarshan, there they had shown all famous dancers of India. Sunil Kothari was expert in that program. he also pointed out same thing that many people are good performer but not necessarily they can become a Guru-A complete teacher. Pt Birju Maharaj, Pt Durga Lal stand apart. They are master of many Arts. Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra also excels in many arts. Many stalwarts those who know many arts, they do choreography, they compose music, select items or from literature-what things are to be presented, they conceive whole visual canvas of dance performance. many can accompany at instrument too. they are the real Gurus. we need real Gurus not just teachers.
