Visually challenged from Uttarakhand says it with flute

They say nobody gets a complete world. True, but Sarju Kumar believes in knitting a complete world for him with bits and pieces that has been bestowed on him.

A visually challenged, probably about 25-years old, Sarju is in Mangalore along with his wife Jyothi and a one-year-old daughter Radhika to showcase his talent in the National Youth Festival.

Hailing from Uttarakhand, Sarju evidently does not possess the best of things but what he has is the naturally blessed talent of music and understanding of notes. With immense love for playing flute, it is only Sarju’s passion that has made him travel miles to Mangalore to test his worth.

When he was three years old, flu affected his vision turning him completely blind. At the age of 12, Sarju realised that music was something that could bring colours to his life and thus started the tryst with music. Not being able to afford a Guru, Sarju started learning the tunes on Bansuri all by himself by listening to radio etc.

“It is initially difficult to get accustomed to anything irrespective of the fact whether the thing offered to you is good or bad. I found it difficult to adjust to darkness and then to learning music in the dark. Now, I feel it is normal,” says Sarju who is presently pursuing his Degree in Political Science, History and Hindi from DAV College, Deheradun.

Having a diploma degree in classical vocals and having learnt harmonium (classical) Sarju also plays Dholak, a traditional percussion. After self tutoring, recently Sarju could find a Guru for himself to teach him harmonium.

As far as his livelihood is concerned, Sarju gives music performances for Lok Sangeeth section of All India Radio. Apart from this, he also gets orders for singing at various places, which is adequate to run a decent living.

When younger participants accompanying him from Uttarakhand bask over his talent and the melodious flow of tunes from his Bansuri, Sarju says that they are just being kind by exaggerating what they have heard.

Having carried his dreams in his backpack all the way from Uttarakhand, Sarju says that he has to ‘see’ what future has in store for him.