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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Love not blind for the singing couple by Prasad Gunewardene "Sobawa Hanga Me Lo Thale, Alokayen Apa Ei Ven Kale" (Nature is beneath the earth and why are we separated from light?) was the song this blind couple was singing seated by the side of the Cargills building in Fort on Thursday when I disturbed them to speak to them. Gilbert and Swarna Peiris of Moratuwa attempt to earn a living daily by singing in the corridors of Cargills. They have a 18 year old daughter who stays at their dilapidated house at Angulana, Moratuwa. The corridors of Cargills had been their music venue for 32 years. The time was 10.30 in the morning when I visited them to talk to them. Only four rupees was in the cup in which they collect money from people passing them to attend work. Certainly hundreds would have passed them but only one or two of them had put four one rupee coins into that cup. Gilbert plays the Banjo. This instrument had been gifted to him by Ceylinco Chief, Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawala years ago. But, now the strings are broken and they are tied here and there. Gilbert just touches the strings to give a tempo to sing with his wife. Swarna (49) has been blind from birth while Gilbert had gone blind at the age of six following a serious illness that had affected his eyesight. They had married through a proposal and given birth to a daughter who has a clear eyesight. The daughter brings them to the Fort venue in the morning and comes back in the evening to collect them. "She only studied up to grade six because we couldn't afford and she is just idling at home", Swarna lamented. Asked how much they collected a day, Gilbert replied, "Sir, some days we get about two hundred rupees and there are days we get only ten to fifteen rupees. Such days are more than the days we get something to have a good meal. On those days the three of us sleep with no food and get up even without a cup of tea in the morning". However, they reach their venue to earn a living even on empty stomach. Last Thursday was a day of that nature with Wednesday being dry for the couple. Gift from Lalith Gilbert had learned music while at the Ratmalana Deaf and Blind school. Swarna keeps the tempo up with a ringing voice to duet songs like "Siripade Samanala Kanda Pene" though they may not have seen Adam's Peak being deprived of sight. The house they live is near collapse. During rains the couple and daughter sit up till morning, said Swarna. Gilbert who speaks fluent English thanked Lalith Kotalawala for the Banjo gifted to him years ago and added that if someone could repair it with new strings he could play it with a better sound to attract those who passed them by. Swarna is sick. The doctors have recommended some injections. But she cannot afford it. "When we find it difficult to have a meal, how could we afford medicine", she asked. On and off she coughed and Gilbert helped her with a bottle of water. Their affection really demonstrated that love was never blind to them. Though blind in life they really saw each other through their hearts. Since I knew they were to go on water the whole day with only four rupees collected, I ensured that they had their breakfast and also lunch that day. Hundreds of people with clear eyesights passed them daily at this point. If they are given a packet of lunch at least daily by one in those hundreds it will be a meritorious act. Gilbert and Swarna have lot of faith in Ceylinco Chairman,Lalith Kotalawala. "Sir, even today we earn something because of this Banjo he gave us. How can we trouble him again", the couple asked. When it was time up for me to part, Gilbert and Swarna,though being Buddhists said, "Sir, please mention that we daily pray to God to bless Mr. Kotalawala for helping us to earn even this little money". |
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