Devdeep Deka (left) and Jayanta(right) Goswami practise in the presence of their teacher Kishore Das. Telegraph picture

Sept. 19: Unequal circumstances do not necessarily create unequal music.

Differently-abled Jayanta Goswami and Devdeep Deka have battled various odds to create mesmerising music on the tabla.

“I love playing the tabla and have been doing so for many years. My sir taught me to play it in the school. He also comes to my house to teach me. I stay with my mother, father and brother at home,” said the shy Jayanta, 18, with a smile on his lips.

A resident of Silpukhuri, Jayanta was diagnosed with an intelligent quotient less than normal at an early stage in life.

However, his family did not give up on him and instead, he was enrolled into a special school for the differently abled. It was there that teachers recognised his hidden flair for music.

“Jayanta has been playing the tabla for almost six years now. Apart from learning activities to improve the IQ of such differently children, our school curriculum also includes extra-curricular activities like music and art to further the development of these children in all spheres. I noticed Jayanta showed a keen interest in the tabla and hence, we got him enrolled in the music classes. He plays really well,” said Kishore Das, a music teacher of the special school that Jayanta and Devdeep attend.

Devdeep, 22, who was also diagnosed with an IQ less than normal, loves trying out his hand on the tabla as well as the synthesiser.

Hailing from Uzan Bazar, he has also been taking music lessons in the school for over five years now.

“I like music and play the tabla as well as the synthesiser. Sir taught me to play it. I also play in school functions,” Devdeep said.

He resides with his parents, elder sister and younger brother at his Uzan Bazar residence.

Das said, “While I can teach a particular musical note to other students in about a week, it takes about a month to teach the same to differently-abled students. But the advantage is that both Jayanta and Devdeep pick up notes fast and also remember them as they practise them everyday in the school.”

“As such, I have never faced any particular difficulty in teaching them. In fact, the undivided attention they give while playing the instruments makes the effort worthwhile. People have appreciated their performance on stage during several school functions,” added Das.