GAYATHRI SANKAR

GAYATHRI SHANKAR- THE VIOLINIST

(Handicap is not the body but the mind- instead of treating them as one of our own normal person and give encouragement and appreciation we feel pity. This is wrong. Handicapped people have achieved for more success than normal persons have. One such person is Gayathri Shankar – born without vision. Today she is a renowned Artist both in vocal and violin)

There are People who inspire us by their courage, conviction and undaunted pursuit
towards excellence. Many depressed persons raise up on seeing and hearing their
experience and carved a path for themselves. We are fortunate to have person like
Gayathri Shankar.


Born without eyesight this young girl worked her way to success. We can imagine how
her parents and herself would have felt about the handicap. But Gayathri and her mother did not see it in that light. There always an Inner Light which is always bright and take you to the path of glory.


Gayathri and her mother found this light in Music. Her mother determined that her
daughter should set her goal to become a musician. Right from the age of 4 she taught her music lessons. She herself an artist in All India Radio, natural instinct helped both mother and daughter to make the job easy. Unfortunately Gayathri lost her mother at a very young age. But her mother was reborn in her Sister-in-law who took Gayathri under her care, gave full support and help in pursuing music. She had training under various vidwans like Someswara Rao.

Her first appearance on stage was at the age of 8. She joined Kalakshetra- Adayar and was encouraged by Rukmini Devi-the Founder.Seeing her interest in Violin also, she was put under Violin Masters. Lalgudi Jayaramanthe Violin Masterio took her as his disciple – a turning point in her career. Due to practice of music Gayathri lessons from the age of 4 she did not join in any school till the age of 15. She realized that education is vital for her growth and studied using Braille, passed her BA Degree.


Marriage to a normal girl is itself an experience for parents. In such circumstances will there be any one who can come forward to marry handicapped persons? Yes- Gayathri got a loving husband in Shankar Shankar resigned his job and decided to help Gayathri in her pursuit for excellence in Music. He accompanied her to Music Sabhas and also attended all her needs. He used toencourage her and help her in household duties.


Soon Gayathri Shankar got recognition as good singer and violinist. Many Sabhas invited her for concerts. She participated in the Government wing of Music and Fine Arts Academy `s Yuva Utsav and was awarded Elam Thendral. Titles started pouring for young Gayathri. Madras Lions club awarded her Isai Chudar title, Shanmugananda Sabha Bombay awarded Gana Kokilam and so on. Gayathri sang for Disabled Persons mingled with them and shared their aspirations.

She set herself as an example of how people like her can overcome the shortcomings and live like a normal person. What they need is encouragement of their talents withoutenlightening their shortcomings.We need hundreds of such Gayathri`s to become beacon light for this Society.


Analysis:

Some are born with silver spoon but not all. With ever increasing population and less
than 40% of them below poverty line, under nourishment – disability and shortcomings
are natural. Normal People have bounden duty to come to their help. What they need is
not charity but recognition of their talents and treated as normal persons.

· Vigorous pursuit of the Goal.
· Undaunted Courage.
· Helping Hand by close relatives.
· Encouragement of Masters in their field.

Jagannathan
I