A path of his own

On March 21,at the Indian Medical Association Hall,Nashik,a smiling performer on stage charmed the audience at a programme with his confident solo tabla playing. And then he forced them to cheer along as he launched into an impromptu jig with some children there.

Samanvay Vinod is a happy person. He won’t speak much but will throw enough smiles at you to make you feel at home around him. He could sit on his own for hours,lost in his own thoughts. One evening,he is sitting on the porch of his home quietly,when he flashes that smile again before pointing at some framed newspaper cuttings on the walls. “Those are my photographs,” he says and let’s out a short gurgly laugh. The arrival of his father,Dr Samprasad Vinod,at Shanti Mandir,adds to the levity. Shanti Mandir,is the home-cum-yoga center run by the soft-spoken doctor and yoga teacher and his wife,Dr Rujuta.

As Samanvay carefully seats himself on a chair,his father looks at him with practiced patience. “At that performance,he choreographed his own steps. Everyone enjoyed because he emanates just pure love,” he says. Samanvay was born on June 7,1983,with Down’s Syndrome. As his parents struggled with the initial days of disbelief,there came an answer that would help them cross the rough waters. “The first step was total acceptance. We gave him our unconditional love,no matter what. It worked miracles. He has many special qualities,he handles even inanimate objects like chairs with extreme care. He deserves our respect,” says Dr Vinod.

Brushing teeth or taking a bath were all starting difficulties in this journey of faith. But everyone around Samanvay persevered and gave him enough love to spur him on to learn better. “When he was about five or six years old,we noticed his interest in music – he liked listening to beats. We searched for a guru for him and found one in Vilas Kshirsagar. The focus was not to build a career for him,but encourage something he enjoyed doing.” The tabla teacher means the world to his special disciple. As the conversation flows around him,Samanvay almost instinctively keeps tapping his fingers on the arms of the chair.

The tabla playing has helped Samanvay’s personality acquire more contours. When he plays,he is concentration personified. He mumbles timing under his breath,and his hands seem to take possession of the instruments. Once he starts,he would not want to stop. “He remembers the tabla bol well and is a very willing learner. All that’s taught to him,he rehearses intensely,” Dr Vinod says.

Samanvay top scored at the first music exam he attempted at the Gandharva Mahavidyalay. He scored 62 per cent in the second test,but didn’t attempt further as the theory got tougher. “His teachers appreciated how he could comfortably shift from one taal to the other. But he cannot take to theory as easily,” says Dr Vinod.

Dance is also close to Samanvay’s heart. Mention this,and he immediately starts moving his arms in some disco style steps. “I love dancing. I saw it on TV. I also like the computer,” he gushes,as he shifts to jabbing imaginary keys in the air. The yoga culture around him also instilled good discipline in him. “He wakes up everyday and does yoga. I think that has helped calm him down and make him more focused,” says his brother Sanatan.