Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak

🪔 About

Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak (1905 – 2001) was a revered classical dancer and teacher, instrumental in sustaining and promoting Kathak dance in Pakistan. Born in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, in 1905, into a Syed family, he was initially known as Maina and later converted to Islam. His journey into Kathak began while working at Agha Hashar Kashmiri's drama company, where he witnessed a performance by Acchan Maharaj, the father of the renowned Birju Maharaj. This encounter sparked his lifelong dedication to the art form. Following the decline of drama as an art in 1930, he, along with other artists, gathered in Rampur, where he formally became a "ganda band" disciple of Acchan Maharaj and received his training. In 1937 or 1938, at a musical conference in Banaras, his gurus bestowed upon him the esteemed title "Maharaj Kathak" in the presence of eminent dancers and singers. After the partition of India, Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak migrated to Pakistan, settling first in Karachi before moving to Lahore in his later years, around the 1960s or 1971. He became a chief exponent and held the distinction of singularly sustaining the tradition of classical Kathak dance in Pakistan for over four decades. He is recognized as the founder of the Lahore Gharana, a distinct school of Kathak that preserved the traditional and original Lucknow Gharana style, known as 'Purana Andaz'. While some sources state he never performed on stage in Pakistan, he did appear in the 1995 Pakistani musical film "Sargam" and a Pakistan Television play series. His contributions to classical arts were recognized with the prestigious Pride of Performance award. Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak passed away in 2001. Awards & Honours: Pride of Performance.