Entertainment News Desk!! Pandit Kishan Maharaj (English: Pt. Kishan Maharaj, born: 3 September 1923 – died: 4 May 2008) was a famous tabla player of India. He was a player of Banaras Gharana. He was also honored with Padma Shri in 1973 and Padma Vibhushan in 2002 by the Government of India for his contribution in the field of art. Kishan Maharaj, along with being a master of tabla, was also a sculptor, painter, poet of heroic sentiment and an expert in astrology.
Kishan Maharaj was born in a musician’s family on 3 September 1923 in Kabirchaura Mohalla of Kashi. He was named Kishan because he was born at midnight on Krishna Janmashtami. He received classical music education from his father Pandit Hari Maharaj in his early years. After his father’s death, his uncle and Pandit Baldev Sahay’s disciple Pandit Kanthe Maharaj took charge of his education.
Within a few years of starting his journey of playing the tabla, Maharaj accompanied big names like Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Pandit Omkar Thakur, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Vasant Rai, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Many times he also played solo tabla in musical gatherings. Not only this, he also accompanied on tabla in the programs of great names of the world of dance like Shambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Nataraja Gopi Krishna and Birju Maharaj. He earned fame by presenting his programs on many occasions including Edinburgh and the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Britain in the year 1965. His disciples include the present day well-known tabla players Pandit Kumar Bose, Pandit Balkrishna Iyer, Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari and others.
Respected late Pandit Kishan Maharaj was a man of impressive personality, he always wore a red tikka on his forehead, whenever he used to go to musical gatherings, the musical gatherings used to be full of rhythm and beat, songs, movements and music like Gandharva gatherings. The popular method of sitting in Padmasana for playing the Tabla is, but late Pandit Kishan Maharaj ji used to play sitting on both knees, the music of his Tabla along with Khayal singing used to cast a spell on the listeners, there was a filling in his Theka, and the dialogue between the right and left Tabla used to have a special effect on the listeners and viewers. In his youth, Pandit ji played Tabla in many films, prominent among which are Neecha Nagar, Andhiyan, Badi Maa etc. It is said that a great artist is also a great human being, similarly, respected late Pandit Kishan Maharaj ji was also great, he also went on a hunger strike to establish a Doordarshan Center in Banaras and also strongly opposed the government’s indecisive policy towards accompanying artists.[1]
Kishan Maharaj’s style of living life was very carefree. He always saw life in the mirror of ‘today’ and lived it carefree according to his wish. Walking around the whole locality in lungi kurta and gathering with friends at the paan shop remained his hobby throughout his life. Whenever he felt like it, he would take Bhairo Sardar along on a horse carriage and drive the mare. When he felt like it, he would kick the Kinetic Honda and go around the whole city.
His daily routine consisted of worship, walking, practice, fulfilling his hobbies, chatting with friends. All this continued till the last moment of his life. He used to say very frankly that I do not keep any confusion or dilemma, rather I remove it as soon as possible. So that there is no bamboo and the flute does not play. Sixty years ago, while shaving, he felt the problem of setting his moustache as one side was small and the other side was big, so he immediately got it completely shaved off. After this, he never bothered to keep a moustache again. His daily routine was very regular. He used to get up by six in the morning. Clean the garden, feed the birds and then go for a walk.
Kishan Maharaj had his own unique style of eating. He liked dal, roti, rice with chenna or banana and gourd chaap. In the summer season, he used to eat sattu two to three times a week in the afternoon. He did not like the traditional Banarasi breakfast of puri-kachori. Sometimes Pandit ji was seen flaunting his charm in pant-shirt at a party. But Aligarhi pyjama and kurta were his favourite attire. Pandit ji, who was fond of horse racing, kite flying and hunting, was also very interested in cricket and hockey.[2]
He was honoured with many awards including Laya Bhaskar, Sangeet Samrat, Kashi Swar Ganga Award, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Taal Chintamani, Laya Chakravarti, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award and Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards.
Kishan Maharaj came to this earth at midnight on 3rd September 1923 and at midnight on 4th May 2008, he left this earth to join the gods in the heavenly assembly forever. With his departure, India has lost a timeless musical legend.
