Those weren't mere workshops to teach technique and compositions of Kathak, but it was Maharajji's mission to set the aesthetic of Kathak accross the country. His anecdotes taught us the values inherent in Kathak tradition. He reached out to kids with his loving manner adding humour to illustrate the technique of Kathak. To quote Maharajji from the workshop sessions...
"Ta and thei ... are not mere syllables. Ta is the akash tatva and thei is the prithvi tatva..."
Thus go hand movement for 'ta' facing the sky and 'thei' towards the ground.
While teaching 'phool ki gat' Maharajji would stretch his neck in order to place the flower in the hair. He would exlplain...
"To help the hand to place the flower, the neck stretches first and then comes the hand"
When one does this movement, it occurs that it is so natural but we hadnt given it a thought or analyzed in such a way. Maharajji's technique of movements was very close to nature and to natural body movements.
The movement of neck in aamad or a tukda 'ta thei tata thei' the neck and the eyes follow the folded hand from centre towards the side. Maharajji had explained this as,
"The neck movement resembles the movement of a cat. How a cat moves away from your lap...it brushes its entire body against the master while leaving
...the neck has to go that way".
These and many such teachings of the Maestro continue to guide us on the path of Kathak paved by his creative genius.
Finally in Maharajji's words,
"Kathak is a storyteller who recites story of Krishna Radha as well as of laya taal in three syllables taa thei tat"
One cannot imagine the field of Kathak without Maharajji. He is the synonym for Kathak and will always remain with us. 🙏
Dr. Varada Pandit
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