New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their anguish over the demise of legendary kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj. The kathak maestro left for his heavenly abode on January 17. He was 83 years old when he breathed his last after suffering from a cardiac arrest on late Sunday night.
Expressing grief over the loss of one of India's legends, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted,"The demise of legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj marks the end of an era. It leaves a deep void in the Indian music and cultural space. He became an icon, making unparalleled contribution to popularise Kathak globally. Condolences to his family and admirers."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted, acknowledging the contribution of Panditji to the Indian dance form. PM Modi wrote,"Extremely saddened after learning about the demise of Pandit Birju Maharaj, who gave Indian art a special recognition across the globe. It is an irrepairable loss to the entire art world. My heartfelt condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti."
Panditji's granddaughter Ragini Maharaj informed ANI that he had been undergoing treatment for the past month. He had sudden breathlessness at around 12:15-12:30am on Sunday night after which he was immediately rushed to the hospital, but he passed away.
His last rites would take place on January 17 between 12pm-2pm at the Lodhi Road crematorium.
The Kathak maestro, who helped the dance form gain global recognition was also a classical singer. With several awards and titles to his credit, Pandit Birju Maharaj was also honoured with India's second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan in 1986.