Bhaskar Rao played twenty instruments, and sang in ten languages
Bhaskar Rao was born blind, and was capable of doing any work a sighted person does. He was a musician many times over and a music composer. He held a diploma in electronics and could work with electronic equipment. The 5Talents team got an opportunity to interview him in 2012. In spite of his busy schedule, he spared his time with us, sharing his testimony and his encouragement.
Despite his inability to see, he stepped up to the task. Instead of concentrating on the sight he lacked, he focused on the senses and the health he did have, and raised himself as an educated, well-rounded, talented man who touched a great many people — through his life, and through his music ministry.
Bhaskar had fun wherever he went. He was laid-back and very easy to get along with. Children flocked to him, and he was happy to answer any question they had about his blindness. Most of all, he was a wonderful influence in the lives of a great many people. He inspired both blind and sighted people to realise what they have, instead of looking at what they do not. Things were not always easy for him, but he said that God provided for him whenever he needed it.
“What are the talents you got?”
5Talents: Hello Mr Bhaskar, greetings from 5Talents. How are you?
Praise the Lord! Let all glory be to the Lord. Today whatever I am is because of Him.
5Talents: What are the talents you got?
I did a diploma in music in western, Carnatic and Hindustani, did an M.A. in flute specialization, can play various musical instruments — like keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, tabla, mridangam and mouth organ. I speak and sing in ten languages. I can create more than 300 mimicry voices.
I completed my electronic engineering and can replace micro chip ICs with LED balls of the electronics.
5Talents: Wow, that is amazing. Being a blind person, how is it possible?
People who have vision think that blind people are useless and not capable of doing any work. But to overcome their opinion, I decided to take a step which would prove them wrong.
My father died when I was five. Till the age of ten, I was just sitting in a corner of a room like a doll, and useless. But I was listening to music, which is the only source of knowledge and pleasant to me. I got the strong desire to learn music and the world.
One day a pastor met me and asked me if I wanted to study at school, and I agreed. He enrolled me in the Lutheran School for Blind at Guntur. My life changed from a hopeless blind into a transformed new person. I learned Braille — a system of raised dots which can be read by touch. I did 6 years of diploma in music and further I also did electronic engineering.
Bhaskar Rao has mastered 20 musical instruments. He can speak and sing in ten languages.
From the original page
“Why should I accept this god?”
5Talents: When did you receive Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?
Surprisingly, even though I studied in a Christian school, I hated Christians. I was brought up in an upper caste family where we worship many gods and goddesses. So I thought that Jesus is a lower caste god, and why should I accept this god?
But one day I realized that I had no relationship with the gods I worshipped in my past life. The priest at the temple didn't even know me, but this pastor cared about me and my life. As I learnt more about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for my sins and for the entire world's sin, I began to put my faith in Him and started believing Him as only God. I also learnt that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and He has resurrection power, where no other man, gods or goddesses has that power. I accepted Jesus as my personal saviour and Lord and submitted my life to Him.
Today, I proudly say that a blind man like me is capable of doing everything, because I have achieved it in my life through Jesus Christ. It is not me who is doing those things but it is God who works in me. Whatever I do now, it's not me but Jesus Christ in me is doing those mighty things.
“I am specially concerned about youth”
5Talents: How do you use your talents to glorify Jesus?
Currently I am a music composer for a Christian organisation, VishwaVani. I attend musical programmes and gospel meetings to sing and play for the Lord. I am specially concerned about youth; mostly I was invited to speak and encourage among the youth. I am a professional keyboard tutor for western music — students come to me to learn music and vocals. I repair keyboards of any brand; specially church instruments are brought to me.
5Talents: How do you encourage the people who have not discovered their talents, or who would get discouraged by others?
Actually, a person knowing their talent is a specialty. And after discovering the talent, they would use that talent for the Lord's kingdom only after they surrender their life to Christ. Without giving one's life to God a person will never think to use their talent for God, because worldly we would earn a lot of money through the talent.
Dear readers, if you are handicapped, don't despair and don't be discouraged. Take a step toward Jesus and have faith in Him. He will surely transform your life to the great heights as He has done in my life. Today, I am a transformed Bhaskar Rao and God has blessed me with a good wife, children and a status in the society.
It has been 27 years till now. I am using all these talents for His kingdom and for His glory, and will be continuing till the end.
May God bless you. Amen.
Deepakshi Satman
Wrote the Talent Search interviews across the magazine's first year. Appears on the 2013 masthead as publisher.
Talent search · Music · Disability · Testimony · Hyderabad · In memoriam