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{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{Infobox person <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| image              = File:Portrait of Priyaranjan Dasmunsi felicitating noted Tabla Maestro Pandit Kishan Maharaj with Life time Award at the annual concert of Shakhri Begum Memorial Trust at Science city Auditorium, Calcutta on December 9, 2006 (cropped).jpg
| name                =
| image_size        =  
| landscape          = yes
| caption            =
| background          = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| honorific_prefix  = Pandit
| birth_name         =  
| name              = Kishan Maharaj
| birth_date         = 3 September 1923
| honorific_suffix  =  
| birth_place         = [[Varanasi|Benares]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| birth_name         = Kishan Hari Maharaj
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|05|04|1923|09|03}}
| birth_date         = 3 September 1923
| instrument          = [[tabla]]
| birth_place       = [[Kabir Chaura]], [[Varanasi|Benares]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| genre              = [[Indian classical music]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|05|04|1923|09|03}}
| occupation         =  
| death_place        = Khajuri, [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| years_active        = 1934–2008
| years_active      = 1934-2008
| occupation        = [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani Classical]] [[Tabla|Tabla player]]
| parents            = Hari Maharaj (father) <br />Anjora Devi (mother)
| signature         =  
| awards            =
| module            = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed      = yes
| instrument = [[Tabla]]
| genre      =  
}}
}}
}}


'''Pandit Kishan Maharaj''' (3 September 1923 – 4 May 2008) was an [[India]]n [[tabla]] player who belonged to the [[Benares gharana]] of [[Hindustani classical music]].<ref name=ka>{{cite news |title=Pt Kishan Maharaj: End of an era|author= Shovana Narayan|author-link= Shovana Narayan|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080506/nation.htm#16 |newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=6 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?237527|title=Perfect Fourths: Pt Kishan Maharaj and his subtle, thinking tabla was our last link to the quartet of greats|date=26 May 2008|publisher=Outlook}}</ref>
'''Pandit Kishan Maharaj''' (3 September 1923 – 4 May 2008) was an Indian [[tabla]] player who belonged to the [[Benares gharana]] of [[Hindustani classical music]].<ref name=ka>{{cite news |title=Pt Kishan Maharaj: End of an era|author= Shovana Narayan|author-link= Shovana Narayan|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080506/nation.htm#16 |newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=6 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?237527|title=Perfect Fourths: Pt Kishan Maharaj and his subtle, thinking tabla was our last link to the quartet of greats|date=26 May 2008|publisher=Outlook}}</ref>


==Early life and background==
==Early life and background==
Kishan Maharaj ji was born in [[Kabir Chaura]], [[Benaras]] into a family of professional musicians.<ref name=ka/> He was initially trained in classical music by his father, Hari Maharaj. After his father's death, his training was taken over by his uncle, [[Kanthe Maharaj]].
Maharaj was born to a [[Brahmin]] family of hereditary musicians in [[Kabir Chaura]], [[Benaras]].<ref name=ka/> His father was Hari Maharaj and his mother was Anjora Devi. He was adopted by his father's older brother, [[Kanthe Maharaj]], who did not have children of his own.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Simpson McDaniel |first1=Alonzo |title=The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Non-aqueous Liquids |date=1990 |publisher=the University of Wisconsin - Madison |pages=289–291}}</ref>
 
Maharaj's musical guidance was initiated by his father. Maharaj was six years old when his father died. Afterwards, Maharaj's musical training continued with Kanthe Maharaj and lasted for give years.


==Musical career==
==Musical career==
By the time he was eleven, Kishan Maharaj began performing in concerts. Within a few years, Kishan Maharaj was sharing the stage with stalwarts like [[Faiyaz Khan]], [[Omkarnath Thakur]], [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]], [[Bhimsen Joshi]], [[Ravi Shankar]], [[Ali Akbar Khan]], [[Vasant Rai]], [[Vilayat Khan]], [[Girija Devi]], [[Sitara Devi]] and many others.
[[File:Indian musicians at the first music conference after India's independence.jpg|thumb|Kishan Maharaj standing (second row, eighth from left) with other leading musicians in 1948.]]
Maharaj began performing in concerts by age 11. He moved to Bombay in 1944 to pursue a music career and initially struggled. He provided tabla accompaniment to [[Sitara Devi]] in the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Badi Maa]]'' (1945).
 
Within a few years, Kishan Maharaj was sharing the stage with leading classical musicians like [[Faiyaz Khan]], [[Omkarnath Thakur]], [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]], [[Bhimsen Joshi]], [[Ravi Shankar]], [[Ali Akbar Khan]], [[Vasant Rai]], [[Vilayat Khan]], [[Girija Devi]], and many others.
 
Celebrated as a leading tabla soloist, Maharaj also gave [[Sangat (music)|sangat]] to dancers like [[Shambhu Maharaj]], Sitara Devi, [[Gopi Krishna (dancer)|Gopi Krishna]], and [[Birju Maharaj]].
 
Maharaj also performed alongside celebrated tabla maestros like [[Samta Prasad]] (his uncle), [[Alla Rakha]], and [[Karamatullah Khan]].
 
His [[Taal Vadya Kacheri]] performances with [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] percussionist [[Palghat R. Raghu]] were celebrated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nadkarni |first1=Mohan |title=Sitar-Sarod Jugalbandi: Synthesis Of Tradition And Experiment |url=https://mohannadkarni.org/sitar-sarod-jugalbandi/ |publisher=The Bombay Sentinel |date=February 1, 1958 |archive-date=30 August 2025 |access-date=9 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830110857/https://mohannadkarni.org/sitar-sarod-jugalbandi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
Among all his compositions, his "Tala Vadya Kacheri" with the Mridangam Vidwan, "Palghat Raghu" stood out. Maharaj extensively toured and participated in several prestigious events across the world, including the [[Edinburgh Festival]] and the Commonwealth Arts festival in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1965. He has toured across the UK, [[USSR]], [[Switzerland]], [[Poland]], [[Yugoslavia]], and [[Czechoslovakia]].
 
==Artistry==
Maharaj had the ability to play cross-rhythms and produce complex calculations, particularly in [[tihai]] patterns. Known as an excellent accompanist, Maharaj was extremely versatile and capable of playing with any accompaniment, be it with the [[Sitar]], [[Sarod]], [[Dhrupad]], [[Dhamar (music)|Dhamar]] or even dance.
Maharaj had the ability to play cross-rhythms and produce complex calculations, particularly in [[tihai]] patterns. Known as an excellent accompanist, Maharaj was extremely versatile and capable of playing with any accompaniment, be it with the [[Sitar]], [[Sarod]], [[Dhrupad]], [[Dhamar (music)|Dhamar]] or even dance.


Maharaj gave a number of solo concerts during his career and also gave [[Sangat (term)|`Sangat`]] to some great dancers like Sri Shambhu Maharaj, [[Sitara Devi]], Natraj [[Gopi Krishna (dancer)|Gopi Krishna]], and [[Birju Maharaj]].
==Death==
Maharaj died on 4 May 2008 at Khajuri near Varanasi, aged 84.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tabla maestro Kishan Maharaj dead |work=Press Trust of India; [[The Hindu]] |date=2008-05-05 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200805051040.htm |access-date=2009-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104082154/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200805051040.htm |archive-date= 4 November 2012 }}</ref>


Among all his compositions, his "Tala Vadya Kacheri" with the Mridangam Vidwan, "Palghat Raghu" stood out. Maharaj extensively toured and participated in several prestigious events across the world, including the [[Edinburgh festival]] and the Commonwealth Arts festival in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1965.
==Legacy==
Maharaj trained many disciples, several of whom have become prominent musicians. This includes:
* [[Pooran Maharaj]] (son)
* [[Kumar Bose]]


Maharaj was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 1973 and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards|publisher=Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Maharaj&award=All|access-date=2009-05-25}}</ref> He was married to Beena devi niece of Tabla maestro of Benaras Pt. Anokhe lal mishra
* [[Sukhvinder Singh Namdhari]]
* [[Balkrishna Iyer]]
* [[Ranesh Mishra]]
* [[Sandeep Das]]
* [[Arvind Kumar Azad]]
* [[Sanju Sahai]]
* [[Vineet Vyas]]
* [[Shubh Maharaj]] ([[Grandson]])


==Death and legacy==
==Personal life==
Pt. Kishan Maharaj died on 4 May 2008 at Khajuri near Varanasi, aged 84.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tabla maestro Kishan Maharaj dead |work=Press Trust of India; [[The Hindu]] |date=2008-05-05 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200805051040.htm |access-date=2009-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104082154/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200805051040.htm |archive-date= 4 November 2012 }}</ref>
In 1947, Maharaj married Veena Devi, the daughter of [[Anokhelal Mishra|Anokhelal Mishra's]] older brother. They have a son, [[Pooran Maharaj]], who is also a tabla player.
 
==Awards and recognition==
Maharaj was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 1973 and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards|publisher=Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Maharaj&award=All|access-date=2009-05-25}}</ref> He was married to ''Beena devi'', niece of a Tabla maestro of the [[Benaras Gharana]], [[Anokhelal Mishra|Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra]].


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://www.varanasi.org.in/pandit-kishan-maharaj] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522201723/https://www.varanasi.org.in/pandit-kishan-maharaj |date=22 May 2025 }}


{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
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[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century drummers]]
[[Category:20th-century drummers]]
 
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]
 
{{India-musician-stub}}
{{en-Wikipedia}}

Latest revision as of 04:13, 9 March 2026

Pandit

Kishan Maharaj
Born
Kishan Hari Maharaj

3 September 1923
Kabir Chaura, Benares, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died4 May 2008(2008-05-04) (aged 84)
Khajuri, Uttar Pradesh, India
OccupationHindustani Classical Tabla player
Years active1934-2008
Parent(s)Hari Maharaj (father)
Anjora Devi (mother)
Musical career
InstrumentsTabla

Pandit Kishan Maharaj (3 September 1923 – 4 May 2008) was an Indian tabla player who belonged to the Benares gharana of Hindustani classical music.[1][2]

Early life and background[edit | edit source]

Maharaj was born to a Brahmin family of hereditary musicians in Kabir Chaura, Benaras.[1] His father was Hari Maharaj and his mother was Anjora Devi. He was adopted by his father's older brother, Kanthe Maharaj, who did not have children of his own.[3]

Maharaj's musical guidance was initiated by his father. Maharaj was six years old when his father died. Afterwards, Maharaj's musical training continued with Kanthe Maharaj and lasted for give years.

Musical career[edit | edit source]

Kishan Maharaj standing (second row, eighth from left) with other leading musicians in 1948.

Maharaj began performing in concerts by age 11. He moved to Bombay in 1944 to pursue a music career and initially struggled. He provided tabla accompaniment to Sitara Devi in the Hindi film Badi Maa (1945).

Within a few years, Kishan Maharaj was sharing the stage with leading classical musicians like Faiyaz Khan, Omkarnath Thakur, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Vasant Rai, Vilayat Khan, Girija Devi, and many others.

Celebrated as a leading tabla soloist, Maharaj also gave sangat to dancers like Shambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Gopi Krishna, and Birju Maharaj.

Maharaj also performed alongside celebrated tabla maestros like Samta Prasad (his uncle), Alla Rakha, and Karamatullah Khan.

His Taal Vadya Kacheri performances with Carnatic percussionist Palghat R. Raghu were celebrated.[4]

Among all his compositions, his "Tala Vadya Kacheri" with the Mridangam Vidwan, "Palghat Raghu" stood out. Maharaj extensively toured and participated in several prestigious events across the world, including the Edinburgh Festival and the Commonwealth Arts festival in the United Kingdom in 1965. He has toured across the UK, USSR, Switzerland, Poland, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia.

Artistry[edit | edit source]

Maharaj had the ability to play cross-rhythms and produce complex calculations, particularly in tihai patterns. Known as an excellent accompanist, Maharaj was extremely versatile and capable of playing with any accompaniment, be it with the Sitar, Sarod, Dhrupad, Dhamar or even dance.

Death[edit | edit source]

Maharaj died on 4 May 2008 at Khajuri near Varanasi, aged 84.[5]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Maharaj trained many disciples, several of whom have become prominent musicians. This includes:

Personal life[edit | edit source]

In 1947, Maharaj married Veena Devi, the daughter of Anokhelal Mishra's older brother. They have a son, Pooran Maharaj, who is also a tabla player.

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

Maharaj was awarded the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2002.[6] He was married to Beena devi, niece of a Tabla maestro of the Benaras Gharana, Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shovana Narayan (6 May 2008). "Pt Kishan Maharaj: End of an era". The Tribune.
  2. ↑ "Perfect Fourths: Pt Kishan Maharaj and his subtle, thinking tabla was our last link to the quartet of greats". Outlook. 26 May 2008.
  3. ↑ Simpson McDaniel, Alonzo (1990). The Absorption of Hydrocarbon Gases by Non-aqueous Liquids. the University of Wisconsin - Madison. pp. 289–291.
  4. ↑ Nadkarni, Mohan (1 February 1958). "Sitar-Sarod Jugalbandi: Synthesis Of Tradition And Experiment". The Bombay Sentinel. Archived from the original on 30 August 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Tabla maestro Kishan Maharaj dead". Press Trust of India; The Hindu. 5 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  6. ↑ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India). Retrieved 25 May 2009.

External links[edit | edit source]

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