This Day In History- September 3

1923 – Tabla exponent Kishan Maharaj was born. Kishan Maharaj was a disciple of the Banaras Gharana. He first started in concerts at the age of 11 and had the opportunity to share the platform with legends like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and performed in ‘Sangat’ to masters like Nritya Samragini Sitara Devi, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shri Shambhu Maharaj and Natraj Gopi Krishna.

Kishan Maharaj

Kishan Maharaj

Kishan Maharaj was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2002.

1926 – Mahanayak of Bengali Cinema Uttam Kumar was born. He was not only an exceptional actor but also an acclaimed director, music director, playback singer and a producer.

Uttam Kumar

Uttam Kumar

He made his debut with ‘Drishtidaan’ (1948) but it was ‘Agni Pariksha’ alongside Suchitra Sen with which he rose to prominence. This pair was very much liked by the audience and together they went on to star in 30 movies (from 1954 to 1976).

The Legendary actor starred in more than 250 films. He also featured in Hindi movies like ‘Chhoti Si Mulaqat’ (1967), ‘Amanush’ (1975), ‘Anand Ashram’ (1977), ‘Dooriyan’ (1979) and ‘Kitaab’ (1977). Uttam Kumar was the first recipient of the National Award for Best Actor and received it for his performances in ‘Anthony Firingee’ (1967) and ‘Chiriyakhana’ (1967).

1939 – The Governor-General and Viceroy of India Victor Hope, second Marquess of Linlithgow declared India at war with Nazi Germany in World War II. The Provinces of India were on the side of the Allied Nations by default by virtue of their status as British colonies.

Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai

1971 – Renowned novelist and booker prize winner Kiran Desai was born. ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’, her first novel, was much appreciated and it won her the Betty Trask  Award. Her second novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss’   won her the Man Booker Prize (2006) and also the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award (2006).

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