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
