Shubh Maharaj

Last updated
Shubh Maharaj
Shubh Maharaj.jpg
Shubh Maharaj at a recent concert in Kolkata
Born
Shubh Maharaj

(1987-10-28) 28 October 1987 (age 38)
Varanasi, India
Nationality
  • Indian
Occupation
Years active2000–present
Website shubhmaharaj.com

Shubh Maharaj (born 28 October 1987) is an Indian tabla player of the Benaras gharana [1] . He is the grandson of tabla maestro Pandit Kishan Maharaj and the son of Kathak dancer Pandit Vijay Shankar. [2] [3] Recognized as both a soloist and accompanist, he has performed at leading festivals in India and internationally, and received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2018. [4]

Contents

Early life and training

Shubh Maharaj was born into a family of musicians in Varanasi. [5] [3] His grandfather, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Kishan Maharaj, was one of the foremost exponents of the tabla, while his father, Pandit Vijay Shankar, was a Kathak dancer and a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj. [6]

At the age of one, his father symbolically dedicated him at the feet of his maternal grandfather, marking his initiation into the art of tabla. In 1993, he began formal discipleship under Pandit Kishan Maharaj in the Benaras gharana. [7] Their relationship, initially one of grandfather and grandson, evolved into the rigorous bond of guru and shishya. At present he is regarded as the representative [8] [9] [10] of the Benaras gharana of tabla and known for preserving the gharana’s stylistic purity.

Career

Shubh gave his first solo recital at the age of twelve and was described as a child prodigy. [11] Since then, he has performed widely in India and abroad, presenting solo recitals [12] [13] as well as accompanying leading classical musicians [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . He has performed with artists including Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, [21] Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, [22] Vidushi Girija Devi, Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra, [23] Dr. N. Rajam, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt [24] [25] , and Ustad Shahid Parvez. [26] He also performed before Pandit Ravi Shankar and received his blessings. [3]

Performances

Shubh has appeared at major festivals such as Saptak Festival (Ahmedabad) [27] [28] Sankat Mochan Festival (Varanasi) [29] ,Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha (Jalandhar), [30] Shankarlal Festival (Delhi), [31] Dover Lane Music Conference (Kolkata), [32] Haridas Tansen Samaroh (Delhi), [33] Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra (West Bengal), [34] and others. [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]

His international appearances include WOMAD Festival (Australia and New Zealand) [40] Auckland Arts Festival (New Zealand) [41] ICCR Festival of India (Paris), Suriname (South America) [42] Darbar Festival (London) [43] Sydney Opera House (Australia), Queen Elizabeth Hall (London) [44] Shine Auditorium (Singapore).

Awards and recognition

Kashi Yuva Gaurav (U.P. Tourism), Yuva Ratna (Ganga Seva Nidhi), [45] Sangeet Samriddhi Samman (Pt. Birju Maharaj Parampara), Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi, 2018) [46]

Legacy

Shubh Maharaj continues to perform and teach, [47] [48] representing the Benaras gharana worldwide. [49] His focus remains on preserving the traditional style while inspiring younger generations to engage with Indian classical music.

References

  1. ""Nadaradhane" - Sri Shubh Maharaj, Delhi". YouTube. March 13, 2020.
  2. "Shubh Maharaj on Tabla Legend Pt. Kishan Maharaj | Banaras Gharana Exclusive". YouTube. August 2, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Shubh Maharaj - Teacher". routes2roots.com.
  4. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Announces Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskars for the Year 2018". www.pib.gov.in.
  5. "Capital to enjoy an evening of Jugalbandis". Millenium Post. 31 October 2018 via PressReader.
  6. Kucheria, Ambika Mohan (April 7, 2019). "Pandit Vijai Shankar (1948-2019)". sbdc.
  7. "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  8. regarded as a representative of the Benaras gharana of tabla
  9. "Instagram".
  10. "Shubh Maharaj, torch bearer of legacy of Pt. Kishan Maharaj..." www.facebook.com.
  11. "Sri Shubh Maharaj - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow.
  12. "Madhya Pradesh: 30 Performances Scheduled For Shravan Mahotsav In Ujjain". Free Press Journal.
  13. "Unique Tabla Solo | Performance | Shubh Maharaj | Dhamar Taal | Sarat Sadan | 2025 | Just Awesome". YouTube. March 18, 2025.
  14. "Kathak expressions, tabla beats leave audience mesmerised". The Times of India. April 20, 2017.
  15. "A Soulful Evening paid homage to Bansuri Guru Pt. Bhola Nath Prasanna". APN News. October 26, 2018.
  16. "Flute recital organised". The Tribune.
  17. "Sanjeev Abhyankar enthrals with Classical Music rendition at Virasat | Garhwal Post". Garhwal Post. November 3, 2023.
  18. "An evening dedicated to swar, taal aur lay". The Times of India. August 9, 2025.
  19. "A celebration of versatility". The Telegraph (India). 8 October 2016.
  20. Naidu, Jaywant (December 8, 2024). "A Musical Odyssey: The 52nd Pandit Motiram Maniram Sangeet Samaroh". www.thehansindia.com.
  21. "Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute (Saptak Annual Festival - 2018)". YouTube. February 12, 2018.
  22. "Amjad Ali Khan, DJ Nucleya end Assamese fest". Indian Express. February 1, 2016.
  23. S, Aishwarya (December 10, 2015). "Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra spellbound the audience at India Habitat Centre!".
  24. "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's R. K. Sarda Vidya Mandir, Raipur Chattisgarh". bvbraipur.org.
  25. "Saptak: Smells like youth spirit". The Times of India. January 4, 2011.
  26. "Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan's mesmerizing performance on Jan 10th in Ahmedabad, presented by SAPTAK. Accompanied by the brilliant Shubh Maharaj on tabla, the evening was a celebration of raag, rhythm, and tradition". Instagram.
  27. VoI, Team (December 31, 2021). "Gujarat's Much-awaited Saptak Music Festival To Ring In New Year In Gujarat".
  28. "Shubh Maharaj (Tabla Solo) I 43rd Saptak Annual Music Festival 2023". YouTube. December 8, 2024.
  29. "Subh Maharaj's electrifying tabla with Ratan Mohan Sharma and Swar Sharma". YouTube.
  30. "Shubh Maharaj & Sukhwinder Singh Pinky Namdhari | Jualbandi | 141 Harivallabh Saneet Sammelan 2016". YouTube. May 5, 2017.
  31. Khanna, Shailaja (April 7, 2017). "The old gods and the new..." The Hindu.
  32. "A celebration of legacies". The Telegraph (India). 4 February 2017.
  33. "Hindustani Classical Music: View schedule". www.hindustaniclassical.com.
  34. "2015 – Welcome to Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra".
  35. "9K views · 1.2K reactions | From last night in Kolkata with Rakesh Chaurasia bhai and Shubh Maharaj for Ravi Kichlu foundation… | Purbayan Chatterjee". Facebook.
  36. "Pt. Krishnamohan Bhatt - Sitar (Saptak Annual Festival - 2019)". YouTube. February 4, 2020.
  37. "Music festival changes name in tribute to Girija Devi". The Statesman . January 21, 2018.
  38. Aremsaid, ElJay (December 31, 2012). "Ahmedabad (1st – 13th Jan 2013): 33rd SAPTAK Annual Festival 2013 with tribute to the Co-founder & Sitar Legend Pandit Ravi Shankar (7th April 1920 – 11th Dec 2012)".
  39. "22 reactions | Ronu Majumdar - An excerpt from his performance at Saptak Annual Music Festival 2018. Accompanist(s): Shubh Maharaj - Tabla Kalpesh Sachala - Flute support We are less than a week from the upcoming 44th Saptak Annual Music Festival 2024". Facebook.
  40. "WOMAD Festival | World Festival | Meeta Pandit | Indian Singer | Bandish ki Thumri". YouTube. August 26, 2020.
  41. Dart, William (March 11, 2011). "Arts Festival Review: Spirit of India 2011: Shehnai and flute". NZ Herald.
  42. "India in Suriname (Embassy of India, Paramaribo) - ICCR is presenting a live concert series named "Unlock the Music". The 6th concert in this series will be by Pandit Pravin Godhkind* accompanied by Shri Shubh Maharaj on Tabla, to be telecast live on 20th March, 2021 at 9.00 pm IST (12.30 pm Suriname time)". Facebook.
  43. "Pandit Shubh Maharaj || Darbar festival || London 2013". YouTube. October 17, 2024.
  44. "Joydeep Ghosh | Director's Cut - Full Concerts". Darbar Player.
  45. "Virasat - PDF Feb25....... Latest Proposal Made Today | PDF". Scribd.
  46. "उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खान युवा पुरस्कार की घोषणा, इन 32 कलाकारों को मिलेगा अवार्ड". Aaj Tak. July 17, 2019.
  47. "Proudly presenting Shubh Maharaj as... - Ustad Rashid Khan". Facebook .
  48. "There was applause on the tabla playing of Guru Shubh Maharaj | कार्यशाला: गुरु शुभ महाराज के तबला वादन पर गूंजी तालियां -". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi).
  49. "Forums – chandrakantha.com".