PT. Achchan maharaj B.A Iii Dept.of dance Dr. MANSI SAXENA

Achchan Maharaj Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Achchan Maharaj was the eldest among the three sons of Kalika Prasad, the other two being Luchchu Mahaiaj and Shambhu Maharaj. Really speaking, he was the only brother, who received knowledge direct from his father as well as from his uncle Bindadin.

When Bindadin and Kalika Prasad died, Achchan took up the responsibility of training his two brothers, Luchchu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj. He (Achchan) was a court dancer of several states of North India, and served for a long time at Raigarh. Though being bulky, he was very agile with his nimble footwork, and was a master of gracefully and beautifully expressing the various sentiments. He was an expert of both Nritta and Bhava. With his death on 20th May 1960 the Lucknow Gharana truly lost its foremost representative. He was survived by his son, Birju Mabaraj, a chip of the old block.

Brijmohan Maharaj, popularly and affectionately called Birju Maharaj, the doyen of Kathak dance, is the son of Achchan Maharaj. He was trained in his early life by his father, but lost him at the age of only ten. Thereafter be received training from his two uncles, viz , Luchchu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj. Birju is the worthy son of the worthy father. He gave his first public performance at Dehra Dun at the age of seven, and was highly acclaimed by the dance-connoisseurs. He is not only an accomplished dancer of the first order and brought a revolution in Kathak by composing new types of Tukras, Parana, ballets and other compositions, and bringing novelty in presentation, but also an expert Thumii singer, a Pakhawaj, Tabla and Nus player.