R B Jagadish

Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (MS)

Karkala, Nov 1: A group of brilliant blind artists fascinated music lovers and general public by singing songs in different languages in Karkal. This group is comprised of blind artists from different districts of Karnataka, who are the members of Shri Sharada Blind Singers' Association of Kanthinagar, Sringeri Ashraya colony, Chikkamagaluru, which they started quite some time ago.

This group, which wanted to demonstrate their talents to outside world, is residing in Mangaluru, since eight months and has captivated the hearts of music lovers and public alike by giving more than one hundred shows. There are 15 members in the group including graduates, pre-university and high-school educated and even those who have 'Vidwath' in music.

According to the members of the group, the government gives 3% reservation to blinds. However, this opportunity goes to blinds who have done higher studies. That is why blinds who have studied primary, high school, pre-university and graduation are deprived of jobs and are becoming dependent on others for their livelihood. So they formed a group as they became familiar to each other after meeting at various programmes.

The group is led by director Shivamallu from Mysuru, president Yogish from Tipatur, vice-president Krishna from Tarikere, secretary Manjunath from Chennarayapatna, treasurer Jyoti from Kerekatte, Sringeri. The other members of the group are Kiran Kumar from Tumkur, Anil from Karwar, Ramesh from Belagavi and Ramesh from Madikeri. As the members of this group know many languages, they are able to sing folk and movie songs in Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi languages.

Camp at Mangaluru

This group was residing at a lodge in Mangaluru since eight long months. A Good Samaritan from Padil, who was fascinated by the talents of the members of this group, has come forward to provide a rented house at concessional rate.

Kind-hearted rickshaw driver

Whenever this group visits Mangaluru, Nityananda Shetty, who owns a rickshaw, extends them whole-hearted cooperation by taking them in their rickshaw and helps in making arrangements of mike by contacting locals.

Love is not blind

Though the group is comprised of blinds, they too have heart. This is demonstrated by the fact that two members of the group are married. Yogish of Anevala, Tipatur, Tumkur and Jyoti of Kerekatte, Sringeri were classmates when they were studying at Mysuru. They fell in love and got married with the blessings of family members of both ten years ago.

Educated, trained

There are members who are graduates and have done Vidwath in music. Shivamallu, who is the director of the group, Yogish and Jyoti are graduates from Maharaja College, Mysuru are graduates. Narayana, who hails from Belagavi, holds Vidwath degree in music. He is indebted to Gattaraja Gawai of Gadag Math, who extended full co-operation. In addition, he also remembers the help given by priest Joseph and other teachers who have taught him music.

Indebted to Coastal people

They thank the people of coastal district for their whole-hearted support and also appreciate the support extended by people of other districts.