VOA文化艺术2024--Blind Pianist Says Music Gives Him Energy, Hope

Takosangba Pongen could see until he was 14 years old. He has been blind for the 13 years since.

But, nobody would know that by watching Pongen perform on the piano.

Pongen said playing the piano helped him after he lost his sight. "It opened a window to see the world. It gives me energy and hope to go forward," he said.

Recently, he performed at the Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

Pongen plays by ear. He taught himself to play, assisted¹ by piano play training on YouTube that he began using in 2020. He said he would like to be a professional musician someday.

But he is having difficulty finding² a place that teaches piano to people with sight, or vision³, problems.

Pongen first noticed his vision problems at school. He could not see clearly enough to read words on the blackboard in the room.

Then he remembers having difficulty seeing the small, glass balls called marbles that he liked to play with.

A medical operation to treat the problem failed, worsening his vision. By 14, Pongen was blind.

Pongen says that he sometimes wishes he could see but adds that he also accepts his condition as "God's plan." He believes he is meant to serve as a model in how to face difficulty, lending support to others through example.

"If a blind man can do it, why can't others who are fully⁴ able," Pongen said.

Brillante organizers said they believe in the "power of music as an agent of social development." Pongen is a part of their "Specially⁵ Abled Musicians" program.

He played Nocturne in B Flat Minor⁶, a work written by Frederic Chopin. Pongen said Chopin is one of his favorite writers of music.

"I love music that is expressive⁷ and emotional," he said.

Pongen came more than 3,000 kilometers to Bengaluru. He traveled with his sister, Imlibenla, by his side to play at Brillante Festival, the fifth of its kind. His heart was racing⁸, he said, when the program director, Khyochano TCK, presented him to the other musicians.

The nervousness returned as his performance time arrived. Pongen said he took a deep breath to calm himself.

Then, Imlibenla gently guided him onto the stage. She helped to seat him in front of the piano.

From there, he played beautifully.

Words in This Story

blackboard - n. a hard smooth usually dark surface used especially in a classroom for writing or drawing on with chalk

1 assisted   

adj.[计]辅助的v.帮助，促进( assist的过去式和过去分词 )；为…的助手；为…当帮手；辅助

参考例句：

• We were ably assisted by a team of volunteers. 我们得到一批志愿者的大力协助。
• The nurse assisted with the preparation of the medicine. 护士帮助准备药品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

3 vision   

n.视觉，先见之明，光景，视力，眼力，幻想，影像；vt.幻想

参考例句：

• The wall cuts across our line of vision.那面墙挡住了我们的视线。
• Much reading has impaired his vision.大量读书损害了他的视力。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

7 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

8 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。