Question

Shambhu Maharaj excelled in__
A) Hindustani Classical music
B) Instrumental music
C) Urdu poetry
D) Kathak Dancing

Answer 1

Hint:
Pandit Shambhu Maharaj was a celebrated Guru of the Lucknow Gharana school of the Indian classical dance form.

Complete step by step solution:
 Shambhu Maharaj excelled in Kathak Dancing. He was the youngest of the three famous brothers namely, Achchan Maharaj and Luchchu Maharaj. He received his training in early days from Bindadin and later on from his elder brother Achchan Maharaj. Along with concentrating on Kathak, he also learnt classical Hindustani music, especially the Thumri-Anga. He was a proficient in both dancing and Thumri and showed his merit in Nritya and Nritta with utmost excellence and this way he acquired a top notch position in the field of dancing.
He has won numerous awards and titles like Abhinaya Chaktavarti at Madras, Padmashri by the Government of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi award etc.
His ideals were true of his Gharana and he excelled in Bhava. He used Ashtapadis, some Thumris and Bhajans and other Nritya pieces in Kathak.
He had innumerable disciples and among them, a large number featured prominent Kathak dance exponents of the present day. He endeavoured hard to restore Kathak dance as the pure Natwari Nritya in its pristine glory and prestige.
He also became the head of the Dance Department of Bhartiya Kala Kendra in 1955. His death was very sudden as he faced a heart failure in the year 1970. Shambhu Maharaj had four children, out of which 2 kids died an unfortunate death.

Note:
He made his debut in 1926 at the All India Music Conference in Lucknow and was awarded a gold medal for his ‘tayari’. After this debut, he started getting several offers for his performances.