Wednesday, April 5, 2023

OTTAWA'S MUSICAL GIANT AND LEGEND - D S MAHARAJ

 

SINGER HITS A HIGH NOTE

 



INDIA WANTS NATAL’S BLIND PERFORMER




 

After reading Andisha Maharaj’s recognition of Ottawa’s musical giant, D S Maharaj, I thought I would share an article I had written about DS in April 1977.

D S, as he was known, had just returned from a month-long tour of India in March of that year.

He had gone to India to check out his eyes after he became blind.

During the tour he had performed at many functions and mesmerised the people with his musical style. He was invited to return to India after he was offered a number of musical offers.

At this time, I was working for the Daily News, situated at 85 Field Street, Durban, and I interviewed him at his home at the end of Maharaj Road. This is the article that was published:

 

Daily News Reporter


 

Mr D S Maharaj, a talented Natal blind singer, has been invited to settle and work in India as a musician and singer.

Mr Maharaj, of Ottawa on the North Coast, was made the offer during a month-long tour of the country last month.

Mr Maharaj, who was accompanied by his wife, visited India to have his eyes checked by some of India’s top specialists.

He was treated by Dr H D Dastoor, the honorary ophthalmic surgeon to the President of India and consultant to the Armed Forces Medical Service in Bombay.

Dr Dastoor referred Mr Maharaj to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital for further treatment.

Mr Maharaj told the Daily News in an interview on his return yesterday that there were tremendous prospects for him as a blind singer and musician in India.

He said he had been invited by the director of the Workshop for the Blind in Bombay to join its band and also to work there.

He had also been offered a singing contract by Mr M Rajani, one of India’s top film financiers.

In addition, he had been offered singing contracts by some of Bombay’s top nightclubs and hotels. On his tour he had performed at Bombay’s Gaylords nighclub, Tanjori Club, Taj Mahal Hotel, President Hotel, Supna Hotel and the Talk of the Town Hotel.

“I think India is the place for me because musically I seem to fit in. There are greater prospects for a blind singer in India.

“Since I came back my whole outlook in life has changed. My tour has given me something to live for which is something very important to a blind man.”

He said his visit to the Workshop for the Blind in India had given him a lot to think about. In South Africa most blind people were taught to weave and make baskets, but the blind in India received training in various aspects of commercial and industrial life.

They were taught to be traffic officials, radio announcers and airport announcers, telephone technicians, motor assembly technicians, teachers, Dictaphone typists and clerks.

There were 250 workshops for the blind in India.

He said there were also women and nursery schools for blind children.

“India is far more advanced in catering for the blind than we are. I am hoping to meet officials of the Natal Indian Blind Society to pass on some of my observations in India.”

He said he would soon be holding shows in South Africa to raise money for his trip to the London eye specialists. Ends – Daily News Reporter  April 3 1977

 

 

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