For the first seven years of his life, Raj Taru could see, like any other kid. Till one day a cricket ball hit him in the eye. And the view of his world started dimming, growing fainter every day. ending in everlasting darkness.At 24, Taru is blind. But that does not stop him from living life king-size. Today, he is a successful musician - playing the keyboards for various orchestras and also managing one of his own, Wonderboys.But this journey to relative success has not been easy. Says Taru, ``As a child, I was crazy about games. One day, I was hit in the left eye with a cricket ball. It hurt a lot, but I was so involved in the game that I didn't take it seriously''.When Taru went home after the game, he informed his parents about the accident.They shrugged it off as something routine. ``So I was not taken to a doctor. It didn't seem serious because I could see very well with that eye''.Two years passed by without incident. But the damage to the eye was manifesting itself slowly. Says Taru, ``At the time I got hurt, I was in Std. I. By the time I was in Std. II, I was required to read more. And I could feel the strain on my eye. But I still didn't think much of it''.``One day, Dad took up my lessons and realised that I was having problems with my vision - I would write over and under the lines. Then he waved his hand before my face and I could only see a blurred outline of his fingers''.That prompted his parents to take him to an ophthalmologist. But, unfortunately, things got worse. ``The doctor said that only surgery would rectify the loss of sight. But after he operated, I lost vision in my right eye as well''.In the next six months, he underwent three surgeries. But he did not lose sight at one go - it was a slow, two-year-long process. Says Taru, ``I could see dimly, so my father had a driver drop me to school. But even at school I began having problems. The teachers noticed that I had difficulty going up and down the stairs. They asked my parents to shift me''.Taru was shifted to another school, which was more understanding toward his disability. Says Taru, ``My younger brother would read out the lessons to me. And I was allowed to have a writer for my examinations''.Being so young, his sensibilities could not fathom the impact of the disability. ``I didn't bother about it as long as I could go out and play, any which way. It was only when the doctor recommended that I not be sent to school and I was not allowed to move out on my own that I became depressed''.In the interim period, his parents tried several doctors in the country. At Indore, he was given an eye transplant that brought his sight back. But the deliverance was temporary. ``Those were happy days. I was about 18 years old then and even went around riding my motorcycle. But after two months, I lost sight again. And the doctor advised my parents to keep me home.``I felt extremely lonely. Being housebound was very painful; I could not be with my friends and had nothing to do. I was not scared of losing my sight, because I had seen the world. It was the loneliness that hurt. I told my father, who was still scouting for doctors to restore my sight, that I had had enough. The thought of going to a hospital, getting operated, staying there. was unbearable.``I probably would have been depressed all along had it not been for my tuition teacher, who suggested that I learn music. And I thank God for it, because music changed my life. I learnt Indian classical music. Slowly, I was invited to play for orchestras''.In the beginning, Taru had problems moving out on his own. ``People would cheat me. For instance, the auto-rickshaw driver would quote Rs 15 and I'd hand him a note I obviously couldn't see. So even if I gave him a 100-rupee note, he'd ask for more. But now I keep the small notes in a separate pocket and the bigger ones in another''."These days I am so busy that I am barely home. In a month, I do about 22 to 23 shows and have even been invited for shows abroad. But my parents are not too keen on it, they feel that if I have a problem there, they will be unable to help me.``Today, I derive immense pleasure from my work. If fate has left me at the mercy of this blindness, the world of music has opened its doors to me.'' As of now, his parents and siblings look after his daily needs. But Taru is prepared for the eventuality when he will not have their support. ``My father has left me enough money but even on my own, I am making enough to support myself. Right now, I am waiting for the chance to show off my own music compositions''.
