Kishan Maharaj passes away

Khak

new item from TOI
VARANASI: Tabla maestro Pandit Kishan Maharaj, who set the standard of Hindustani music after a public performance when he was only 11, died on Sunday night.

Maharaj, 85, was undergoing treatment at a hospital in his native town and never recovered from a massive stroke he suffered a week ago. His death comes less than two years after shehnai wizard Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away in this temple town.

His last performance was on March 3 at the Nagari Natak Mandali here. The organisers had to stop the concert after he suddenly felt uneasy. Though he was released from hospital soon, the recovery didn't last long. He had to be admitted to hospital on April 29 again, this time, in the intensive care unit.

He suffered a heart attack around midnight on Sunday, his family said.

Sarod exponent Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his son Amaan and Ayaan had visited Maharaj at his home on April 29 before he fell ill. On the inaugural day of the Sankat Mochan Music Festival here on April 24, Maharaj was seen chatting with vocalist Pt Jasraj and other musicians.

His daughter Anjali Mishra was near him when he breathed his last. Maharajis survived by his wife Beena Devi, son Puran Maharaj, daughters Anjali, Purnima and Indira.

As the news of his death spread, people began arriving at his family home in Kabirchaura. On Sunday morning, his body was taken to his home from the hospital for people to pay homage.

An outstanding tabla player, Maharaj was born on September 3, 1923 into a family of professional musicians. He was trained by his father Pandit Hari Maharaj and his guru and uncle, Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, one of the grand old masters of tabla.

His first public performance was at the age of 11. A few years later, he began sharing the stage with stalwarts like Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Vasant Rai, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

With his versatility and temperament, Maharaj was a musician's dream of a perfect
accompanist. He was delightful at solo concerts.

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~Khak~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover

Gametotravel

May his soul rest in peace!

Khak

varanasi lost ustad bismillah khan few years back...... all old legends are leaving this world

Gametotravel

Let us be proud of our heritage.

But the show must go on and further than before.

Nick-H

Saw him play a solo concert in London quite a few years back. It was magnificent.

Very sorry to hear this news.

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