Difficulty No Deterrence - Bangalore

Young Bharath is silent but not inactive. His paintings, which distinctively depict the landscapes of Hampi and Badami, were showcased at Chitra Santhe, an annual event organised by the Chitrakala Parishath, along with the paintings of 11 other students who are a part of an art programme initiated by the Association of People with Disability (APD).

 Since then, their works have been displayed in many other galleries in Bangalore like Kynkyny, Ken School of Art, Seshadripuram, and Banna in Malleswaram. Similarly, another group of visually-impaired artistes, is using their creativity to defy the society’s norms of what the visually-impaired people can and cannot do.

Since 2007, this camera-wielding bunch, part of the organisation 'Blind With Camera', have shown that you do not need the gift of sight to click beautiful, compelling photographs, many of which have been displayed at exhibitions in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.

There are more examples of people who have overcome their disabilities to make a mark in society. Buse Gowda, Guruprasad, Tharaka Ramudu, Satish Rao and Shivaswamy all hail from the rural districts of Karnataka. Being blind and visually challenged at a very young age, they joined a special school for the blind in Bangalore to pursue their basic schooling when they were seven years old. During their academics, as an experiment, they dabbled in folk dance performances during school day celebrations. “This moved us to take up dance seriously,” says Guruprasad. Today, these five are among the better-known Bharatanatyam dancers in the city and under the tutelage of Mysore B Nagaraj and Dr Suparna Venkatesh at Articulate Ability, Chamarajpet, they have travelled across India and the world, taking part in more than 1500 shows.

Donning silks and glittering jewels, strapping on ankle bells, stepping on stage and performing to diverse ethnic audiences has been an exhilarating experience for them. But society's attitude towards their disability is disheartening, they lament. Talking about their experience, Guruprasad elaborates, “The society, including family members tend to marginalise us. It is saddening when some people do not believe in our capabilities and brush us off because we are disabled.” Despite this, what has held them in good stead is patience and perseverance.Just like non-disabled people, they strive to understand and acquire mastery over difficult art forms.

According to Devareddy N Chinchali, who runs a free residential music school in Bangalore for visually challenged girls, disability is not a hindrance if you are passionate about what you do. And his story is testimony to this fact. A visually impaired person himself, Deva Reddy learnt Hindustani classical music when he was nine years old. After completing his pre-university studies in Dharwad, he joined Ramana Maharshi Academy for the Blind as a music teacher to support himself and fund his graduate studies.

Since then, he has moved to different schools and colleges teaching music before starting his own music organisation, Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Trust for the Disabled, to help visually impaired students learn the art of music free of cost. What started as a modest attempt in 2003, has helped over 10 visually challenged girls from economically backward classes lead a financially-stable life as music teachers, he recounts.

A passionate soul

Lingaraj  (29) has been passionate about Indian classical dance since he was a child. His first stage performance was at the age of seven and since then he has not looked back. After joining Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in 2009, he has travelled to different states in India, visited over five countries and taken part in various national dance competitions, often winning top prizes. Though visually impaired, he never felt the urge to let go of his dreams.

Says Srinivas Gowda, who has trained dancers like Lingaraj, “The most interesting thing that I have observed while teaching them is that kids with disabilities don’t get conscious and nervous, they are very lively on stage. Also when they have disability in one organ, their other senses and organs become more active which I find quite mesmerising. For example visually impaired kids have amazing memory. Every moment I spend with these kids is interesting and empowering for me.”

Disability, though an adverse human condition, has not stopped them from leading a creative life.

Through the experience of learning about art and contributing to it, art has now become an invaluable form of self-expression for them.

For artistes with disability

■ Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled - +91 80 25721444

■ Articulate Ability- 9341288391

■ Association of People with Disability (APD): 080 25721444

■ Pandit Puttaraj Gawai Trust for the Disabled: 080 26393362,

■ Astha: 080-26756429

■ Silent Talks- Foundation for Art & Culture for Deaf: -080-26615913, bloreumesh@yahoo.co.in



Source : The New Indian Express , 31st May 2014