Inspiring vision

But this journey to relative success has not been easy. Says Taru, 8220;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 didn8217;t take it seriously8221;.

When Taru went home after the game, he informed his parents about the accident.They shrugged it off as something routine. 8220;So I was not taken to a doctor. It didn8217;t seem serious because I could see very well with that eye8221;.

Two years passed by without incident. But the damage to the eye was manifesting itself slowly. Says Taru, 8220;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 didn8217;t think much of it8221;.

8220;One day, Dad took up my lessons and realised that I was having problems with my vision 8211; 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 fingers8221;.

That prompted his parents to take him to an ophthalmologist. But, unfortunately, things got worse. 8220;The doctor said that only surgery would rectify the loss of sight. But after he operated, I lost vision in my right eye as well8221;.

In the next six months, he underwent three surgeries. But he did not lose sight at one go 8211; it was a slow, two-year-long process. Says Taru, 8220;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 me8221;.

Taru was shifted to another school, which was more understanding toward his disability. Says Taru, 8220;My younger brother would read out the lessons to me. And I was allowed to have a writer for my examinations8221;.

Being so young, his sensibilities could not fathom the impact of the disability. 8220;I didn8217;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 depressed8221;.

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. 8220;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.

8220;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 there8230; was unbearable.

8220;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 orchestras8221;.

In the beginning, Taru had problems moving out on his own. 8220;People would cheat me. For instance, the auto-rickshaw driver would quote Rs 15 and I8217;d hand him a note I obviously couldn8217;t see. So even if I gave him a 100-rupee note, he8217;d ask for more. But now I keep the small notes in a separate pocket and the bigger ones in another8221;.

quot;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.

8220;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.8221; 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.

8220;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 compositions8221;.