Birju Maharaj ji and my mother [Sitara Devi] went back a long way. His father and uncles were her Gurus.  And she had great admiration for him - she loved his unique style, grace, and poise. His artistic achievement [was incredible]. I have fond memories of his visits to our home whenever he was in town. 

I had the opportunity to spend meaningful time with him much later, during our work together on the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. I was the music director, and he was choreographing and overseeing the Kathak dance segment. It was one of the highlights of that project that I got to work with him, and especially the one-to-one time when he graciously invited me for dinner to his home. True to his Lucknow heritage, Birju  Maharaj ji was an artist in the truest form, and always soft and gentle.