A Rajasthani folk dancer and musician, Atique started singing on stage at the age of four. Despite the challenges of the popularity of Western forms, Atique has had a successful career, performing in various parts of India and abroad.

Mohammad Atique is an accomplished Rajasthani folk dancer and musician.

A native of Udaipur, Atique had been a music and dance enthusiast since his childhood. Atique mentions that in his childhood he was adopted by a Hindu family. His Hindu guru , who was from South India, raised him and trained him in folk and classical dance.

Atique shares that he started singing on stage at the age of four. He had his studies going on simultaneously at Vidya Bhawan School. After his 10th grade, he decided to quit his studies as he wanted to focus on his music career full-time. He shifted to Chennai to explore new things, and after spending a couple of years there, he came back to Udaipur.

Talking about his struggles, Atique says he believes that due to the emerging Western forms, every classical performer struggles through their life. He shares that the youth are more inclined towards Western dance and music, and hence, it becomes difficult to sustain the cultural folk dances.

Atique has looked up to his mother, who is also his guru, and his father as his role models. He shares that looking at both of them has given him the inspiration to learn and grow in life. Atique used to hold Rajasthani folk dance camps, and his first show itself was so successful that he has had the title of ‘Maharaj’ since then.

According to Atique, if a child has a family background of artists, their interest in the art forms evolves automatically. He used to admire his mother and aspired to be as good as her.

Sharing some of the best moments of his life, Atique says that since he got the title of ‘Maharaj,’ his responsibilities have increased. He produced his music and choreographed some new dances, and he took these dance forms to various parts of India and abroad. He was given an opportunity by the Prime Minister of Mauritius in 1998 to perform on stage. The French people loved these shows so much that instead of performing two shows in a week, they were asked to perform eight shows in that week.

Talking about achievements, Atique says he believes that art is like a deep ocean. If one thinks they have learned or achieved everything, they won’t be able to move forward. He shares that the love and blessings he got from people are his biggest achievement. He has also been awarded with the ‘upadhis’ of ‘Nritya Samrat,’ ‘Nritya Bhushan,' and ‘Maharaj.’

Atique shares that it is not everyone’s cup of tea to maintain a balance between studies and art. However, he was able to pursue only one of them.

If given a chance to go back in time with a time machine, Atique would like to go to the time when the British ruled India and feel how the citizens of the country felt at that time.

Atique believes that there should be an exchange of cultures between different nations. However, we should not be only influenced by Western culture with zero attention to Indian culture. He urges everyone to experience peace through Indian music and give time to our culture too.

Atique finds inspiration in the quote, "The person who flows with the waves never achieves their destination, but the one who flows against it can."