Now, as one ponders about analysing the three-day fest, reference to a western maxim would make sense, "Obedient sheep are not known for their creativity". He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, including his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. Brij Mohan Nath Mishra (4 February 1938-17 January 2022), popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj, was an exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance. Kalashram is a reputed dance-learning institute founded by the illustrious Birju Maharaj, who passed away on Sunday. But if we continue to curse ourselves, then how will the world look towards us.The world is not only united by concerns of economic growth, but also by human values, and India can play a vital role in it." In his speech at the inaugural show, the prime minister gave credence to his strong conviction of 'soft-power' and said, "We can make contribution (of India's soft power) only when we ourselves feel proud of our culture. "Being a performer myself, what caught my attention was the grand scale of some of the scheduled performances -1,000 Kathak dancers performing to the choreography of the high priest of Kathak, Pandit Birju Maharaj, and 1,000 singers singing verses by Rabindranath Tagore," Shubha Mudgal later wrote in a newspaper article. Nevertheless, the show went on successfully, and, of course, the highlight was the coming together of '1000' disciples of Kathak from Kalashram of Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj. Media organisations generally took an anti-government line, so did activists. The Art of Living's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had organised the cultural extravaganza during the World Culture Festival.įor the Prime Minister, it was an opportunity to display 'India's soft power for his detractors, it was a display of Hindu prowess, and so that ought to be sabotaged. If one said and wrote anything laudatory about the Cultural Festival on the banks of river Yamuna, one was anti-environment and was also in the danger of being called a communal or bought over by Narendra Modi's charm and machinations. The so-called 'polarisation' of India's intellectual class was deep, and it was difficult to express an opinion, and that would still be considered an objective one. By March that year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not even two-years-old in the coveted office, and the 'sickular' army was still rejoicing the success of Bihar assembly polls when casteists got together to hand over a defeat to the BJP in November polls the previous year. PM Modi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Late Birju Maharaj would always defy definitions and, in their own wisdom, declined to play obedient sheep, which has always shaken the foundation of the 'established' Indian intelligentsia's faith in itself.
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