Sri's Musings from Bangalore

It was an enactment of Krishna’s story and the decline (washout actually) of the Yadava clan (kula). An unsual story, but choreographed and displayed with precision and poise. The costumes were dazzling, the music was perfect and the artists rendered their elaborate dialogs immacutaley, in Kannada. The props were simple, yet perfect.

“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” ~Aaron Rose

There was a huzzle before the start of each scene - when the lights were dimmed, when performers were led onto the stage by a whole lot of volunteers…. because they needed a little help to get on and off the un-familiar terrain of the stage at ADA Rangamandira on JC Road in Bangalore. Unfamiliar, because all the performers - actors and actresses, were blind!

……

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness” ~Chinese Proverb

One of the speakers at the anniversary celebrations of Matru School for the blind, re-iterated that quote, in Kannada. So true. The children and teachers of this school were the stars that evening. “They are not blind” said one of the digintaries. We’ve just seen that they have converted what we might call their “scars” to “stars”. What a transformation, indeed!

“When you possess light within, you see it externally” ~Anaïs Nin

It was a humling evening, that cool Saturday, Jan 12th, and very enjoyable.

“A sensible man will remember that the eyes may be confused in two ways - by a change from light to darkness or from darkness to light; and he will recognize that the same thing happens to the soul.” ~Plato

…..

There were 6 people on the dias (stage) that evening. All of them spoke to the audience after the program. Each one of them was awestruck and speechless, very humbled too. They were so moved, they spoke briefly and eloquently. None of their talks lasted more than a few minutes, unlike the long speeches I’ve heard from chief guests at other programs I have attended here in Bangalore.

Perhaps the children and teachers of Matru School for the blind, took their speech away? And left them dumbfounded and awestruck? Just as they left me that evening. The speakers, all in high places, and from the upper echelons of society, egos if any were curbed. They were emotional and had no words to express their feelings, so they said few words. The list of invited dignitaries included:

---Brigadier Madan and his wife
---Kadur Ramaswamy – retired teacher and noted Kannada writer
---G N Ramakrishna Reddy - Technical Education
---K. Basavaraj
---Ganshyam Das.
---Sharda Devi – A Kannada writer now living in Chicago.

It was an evening well spent. I did not know what to expect when my friend, Sudha, said that there is a program of this school at ADA Rangmandira in town. I wanted to see them. So, I attended, not expecting anything. We had recently raised some funds for the organization. I had reached out to a few friends in the US and a couple of family members here had also contributed. In all, the request was for Rs. 25,000 (a little over $500). To my amazement and pleasant surprise, we reached this goal after just a couple of conversations with relatives here and an E-mail sent out to a few friends and family in the US. The funds exceeded this goal and we plan to donate it to the school for other dire needs they also have.

The program was to start at 5.30 pm. Renganathan, Maya and myself landed there right on time. There was a big poster at the entrance giving details of the show – an anniversary celebration for “Matru School for the Blind”. However, only a handful of people were present and the hall seemed so empty. The chief guests were there and us and a couple of others. People started slowly tricking in. The stage was being set and posters were being put up – all as we sat there waiting for the show to begin. I thought of the days I volunteered for ICA (India Cultural Assoc.) and SAWERA (South Asian Women’s Empowerment and Resource Center) in Portland – how we organized and went through events, bringing all the stuff loaded in the boot (trunk/dikki) of our cars and getting ready, sometimes on time, sometimes late, but doing it anyway and making a difference, a change and an impact.

As we waited, we saw more than a dozen kids in uniform, walk in. They came in a single file, holding hands. They were all little boys and girls from the school, all blind. They sat next to us, in the same row! I was sad and happy for them at the same time. They were going to “see’ their classmates and teachers perform on stage. It was a big day!

Among the group of children in the audience, I noticed a little older child who seemed to be retarted. Later, I heard that “Matru School for the Blind” does not turn away anyone in need. It’s not just the visually impaired that they cater to!

Finally about about 45 min or so from the scheduled start time, things were all set to go!
The program started off with a song by a young girl, Yasmin. She sang a devotional welcome song, beautifully - it was loud and clear and her voice was so very confident. She was already in her costume for the drama she was going to be in – soon to follow this brief invocation and small opening ceremony. She kept a perfect beat with her thalam. Then came a very eloquent speech in English – brief welcome speech it was, from an all too confident little boy (perhaps 8 year old), Srinivas. He was oblivisous of the sage (hermit) costume he was dressed up in. He could not see that costume or the awe struck audience in front of him. That did not seem to deter him from delivering his speech, all from memory! There was another dialog delivery form yet another little boy and then it was on to the main show – a long drama production.

The story of Krishna and his life was enacted beautifully - the rise and fall of the Yadava clan. The whole program was in Kannanda. Although we could understand the language perfectly, we could follow the mythological story, very well indeed! It was rendered perfectly. Kudos to the director and all the artists! The confidence of the actors, their dialog rendition, how they negotiated the stage, the elaborate costumes, the choreography, the live music … was all so laudable! It’s still amazing to me that these folks cannot differentiate light and dark, day and night….

In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't. ~Blaise Pascal

I was very happy to meet the founder of the org. Ms.Muktha R. Gubbi. She started the org. in year 2001. She looked radiant with her energy, warm smile and simple but
elegant orange sari. She was energetic and running around, trying to make sure all things were in order. She even came around the audience and said “Thanks for coming”.

“Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. ~Norman B. Rice

Karur Ramaswamy, an invited guest was Muktha’s teacher over 4 decades ago. He was amazed to meet his old student, so many years later. He applauded her profusely and said “what a proud teacher he was today”. He felt he should have kept in touch with her all these years she was off doing such a wondrous thing. But he just came to know only now. He thanked her for the opportunity to be there that evening and witness her immense contribution to the society. A teacher being humbled by the work of his student and being so extremely proud, it was a rare feeling to experience. “Better to know now – better late than never”, he added.

For the first time, I saw a very moved audience who started to pledge and give contributions then and ther like crazy. Earlier, Muktha had called my friend and asked us to get some money for needed expenses. So, we had some money drawn out. After the show, it seemed she did not need that help we were ready to offer. The dignitaries also pledged and gave. G.N. Ramakrishna Reddy – from Technical Education have Rs. 5001 on the spot, Ganshyam Das handed a Rs.10,001 donation spontaneously, Sharada Devi the Kannada writer residing in Chicago had brought her books to sell and all proceeds of the sale went to the school. I also purchased a copy for Rs. 150. My cousins and mom can read and I will find out the story.

After the drama was done, a group of Engineering college students took to the stage and played songs on keyboard and guitar. They dedicated the songs to all the great performers of that evening who had moved our hearts. It was an impromptu performance but most people were rushed and started to leave, as the show had lasted well over an hour longer than planned!


There were eye-donation forms that people could pick up on their way out. There was an appeal for interested people to sign up to give the gift of sight when our time in this world was over.

As we said goodbye, we met Muktha at the door, a little baby in hand. He was a 2-3 days old when he was left at her doorstep. He came into her life quite suddenly, over a year ago. This past weekend, she celebrated the first birthday of this child. He is no orphan but a dear child to a whole community, thanks to the work of one dedicated woman and a whole lot of supporters she has been able to gather.

We had raised some Rs. 40K for a specific need Muktha had – heart surgery expenses for one of the blind children. She needed Rs. 25K only. Rest of the Rs. 1lakh she was able to raise through other means. We handed her Rs. 5K at the show. Remaining we will be handing to the Matru School very soon. Rs. 25K was for surgery, rest will be for various other needs. One major donor among this is interested in visiting this place. We’ll have an opportunity to do this very soon this month. I’m looking forward to my visit. Muktha called me last night (Feb 2nd) and updated me on the situation of the little boy. He’s not doing too well and they might expedite the surgery date from the currently scheduled appointment in April.

Matru School for the Blind is located in Yelahanka Satellite town close to Bangalore. Muktha has given the children a fine home and makes sure they get good education and don’t get left behind in any which way. The children go to various classes including music lessons. Over 50 people reside here and the place is maintained very well by everyone living there, I hear.

I have posted a first hand report about the organization. My friend Sudha wrote this after her own visit there recently. The article appeared in our local newspaper. See:
http://sribloremusings.blogspot.com/2007/02/matru-school-for-blind-in-yelahanka.html


“Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us, and then we'll need no other light” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

For “Matru School for the blind”, that someday is the present, today!

-Sri

# posted by Sri Renganathan @ 8:14 PM