In Spite of Sight: Kathmandu, Nepal – January 2015
A walk on the streets of Kathmandu resonates with all our senses – beauty in simplicity by far the recurring motif. I stumbled upon this lovely trio. She sang, they played, people gathered in awe at their raw talent.
Their choices of songs was moving – slow, melancholic and beautiful. The musicians had their eyes closed – they looked serene and tranquil. We all wanted to feel that way and one after the other, the entire crowd started closing their eyes.
When the music stopped, we opened our eyes and erupted with applause. The musicians grinned from ear to ear. It wasn’t a proud smile, it was a smile of genuine happiness. They bowed their heads in humility as people showed their gratitude by filling up their bowl.
The people in the crowd slowly dispersed and the musicians were left to themselves. It was then that a local told us that the three had lost their sense of sight at a very young age. They were not bitter, they were not defeated.
They made a living by making music, they made a life by making people happy. Beauty in simplicity. Though they can’t see, it is we who are blind.
tout le monde 