E-Paper
Worthy daughter of a worthy father!
Being a woman, it was difficult for her to penetrate the male dominated arena and carve a niche for herself. But today her success speaks for her. Mamta Maharaj, the daughter of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, has managed to create an identity for herself in the field of kathak, but only after much struggles. Mamta was in city to perform at the all-India music conference organised by Prayag Sangeet Samiti.
Being a woman, it was difficult for her to penetrate the male dominated arena and carve a niche for herself. But today her success speaks for her.
Mamta Maharaj, the daughter of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, has managed to create an identity for herself in the field of kathak, but only after much struggles. Mamta was in city to perform at the all-India music conference organised by Prayag Sangeet Samiti.
This dancer considers herself to be the 'shishya' of her 'guru' father. "Simply call me the disciple of Maharaj Ji. I grew up watching my father perform and thus I don't remember when I started dancing myself", she said.
Mamta's success is the result of her dedication and devotion and undivided attention towards the art form. "Surprisingly in our family the females are not allowed to take up dance as a career. But I knew right from the childhood that nothing less will work for me. However I was given chance to perform in the productions of my father as a kid", she said.
Mamta considers her elder sister Kavita Mishra to be her inspiration. "She is an acclaimed dancer but she had to give up dancing on account of our family traditions. It always irked me and I could still feel her pain inside me since to give up art by an artiste is like not being allowed to breathe. At present she is married to Sajan Mishra, the younger of the siblings from among the artistes duo popularly known as Pandit Rajan-Sajan Mishra", said Mamta.
However, the devotion of Mamta didn't go unnoticed by her father and guru Pandit Birju Maharaj. After being allowed to take up kathak as a career, Mamta has touched the heights of success. She has given solo performances and also shared the stage with her father in India and abroad in the countries such as United States of America, Malaysia, Holland, and others. At present she runs a dance school 'Kalashram'. She is A-grade artiste in Doordarshan. "It is satisfactory to watch my students earning name and fame for themselves", she added.
Her brothers Deepak Maharaj and Jai Kishan Maharaj have already made a mark in the field of kathak. Mamta has personified the characters of Meera, Roopmati, Baj Bahadur through her dancing skills and today she participates in almost all the productions of her father.
"I have struggled for long and it has strengthened me enough to prove my mettle. It is my message to us, the women, that we must expose our hidden talent whenever we get an opportunity and always strive for independence", said Mamta.
