Music brings peace to this visually impaired teacher

“I like being with music. It gives me peace and hope,” said 36-year-old Deepak Sharma, a visually impaired man whose life is now dedicated to music. He is a music teacher at Government Primary School, Adampur, where he teaches young children. Though visually impaired, he never misses a note as his hands work like magic on the harmonium.

“People who play the harmonium, or any instrument for that matter, don’t need to see it to play it. You just have to know the ‘Sargam’. Teaching young kids has become an integral part of my life,” Deepak said.

Deepak’s journey began in 2017 when the Education Department appointed 162 visually impaired music teachers to various government primary schools across the state. Deepak was among them and has never looked back since.

His first posting was at Government Primary School, Reru, in East One Block. Before his appointment, students at the school only heard music on special occasions. However, after Deepak became their music teacher, they began to learn music as well. “Children in villages know the names of many singers, but they don’t know how these great singers are made. My aim is to introduce them to music and help them understand its importance. When they learn the ‘saat sur’ from me, I feel satisfied,” he told The Tribune.

Deepak is also a member of the National Federation of the Blind Society. He said that no one in his family had a musical background. “I studied music as a child and even earned a diploma. Now I have a 10-year-old daughter, and I want her to learn the same,” he added.

Deepak also has a harmonium at his home and when he comes back, he plays the instrument to calm him down. “Whenever I feel anxious or restless, playing the harmonium brings me solace and calms my mind,” he said.

Jalandhar