Against all odds

Pretty Geeta can sing like a nightingale.  A first rank holder from the Kerala University, she is a perfectionist in everything she puts her mind to. Geeta can take care of the business of daily living probably even better than the best – so what's the big deal you ask? Well, everything, since Geeta is totally visually impaired.

A music teacher at the Gulf Fine Arts Institute here in Abu Dhabi, Geeta is well-known in the musical fraternity. Confident, vivacious and with a mind of her own, she is an absolute pleasure to talk to. Born in a little village in Kerala, she comes from a musically inclined family. Of her six siblings, her brother teaches music in Chittoor Government College and two other sisters teach music to little children – astonishing fact considering they all have the same handicap.

Geeta is very proud of the fact that she manages here on her own as her husband Rajan works in Saudi Arabia. To her parents goes the credit of raising their children in what could possibly be the worst scenario for a family. Four blind children would pose a problem for anyone. But they were never treated differently from their normal siblings. Geeta's mother, in fact, got her the first assignment to sing for All India Radio. Her mother is a great woman of little education but immense determination and the will to succeed, something she has passed on in abundance to her children.

Geeta began her musical career on stage at the age of six. At 16 she went to the prestigious Women's College in Trivandrum to get her first formal education in music. Selection was strictly based on musical talent and good school grades. The selection board was so impressed by Geeta's talent that her academic marks were not considered. She graduated with top honours from the university. The sensation thus caused attracted the attention of Isaac and Francis, the owners of Gulf Fine Arts, and Geeta arrived in Abu Dhabi. Once here, she went to Mafraq Hospital for an eye operation, but science could not bring back sight to her eyes.

Teaching classical music and performing in cultural shows here keeps Geeta quite occupied. But she has one small regret. Though she has been invited to record her voice many times, there is nobody here to take her to those recording sessions as they are in Dubai. However, she proudly tells us that two of her students, Susanna Alex John and Deepa Jacob, have had their music professionally recorded.

To the parents of children with special needs Geeta says, "Treat them with respect and involve them in household chores. Do not over protect them and they will, grow into confident individuals and be a useful and integral part of society." She goes on to say, "It is society that deems a handicapped person as helpless. If a normal person slips and falls, people will maybe laugh and offer a little help. If I fall, there will be a fountain of pity and sympathy, all useless emotions that I could do without."

A great conversationalist, Geeta is very popular here. The one drawback in her life is that her husband is not with her here. She sincerely wishes he could get a job in Abu Dhabi.