Sonu Nigam's Concert Helps Eradicate Blindness
By A.H. Cemendtaur
The ingredients of magic were all there: a singing and dancing Sonu Nigam, one of the most popular figures in South Asian showbiz; a 33-member orchestra flown from India; professionally managed concert lighting in company of theatrical fog, producing spectacular light-fingers; the wonderful setting of SAP Center San Jose; and over 10,000 fervid fans. And magic they produced!
The Memorial weekend concert was arranged by the Sankara Eye Foundation, USA.
To a very large extent the entertainment program was about sight. I tried to find a single blind person in the audience, but I did not find one.
All my life I have lived with loved ones suffering from RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa), a degenerative eye disease. I have seen people pushed into depression when the tunnel of their vision shrinks, and one day even the last beam of light is gone. I consider myself as familiar with the difficulties associated with blindness, as a person of sight can ever be. I can clearly 'see' a world of complete darkness coming alive only through sounds, smells, tastes, and touch. People, it is a world of great handicap—it is not where you want to see anyone, ANYONE.
Sankara Eye Foundation's mission is to have 20/20 vision by 2020—the foundation wants to completely eradicate curable blindness in India by 2020. It is a lofty goal, and a very commendable one. Sankara needs complete support to make this dream a reality.
