Visually impaired musician says ‘Music is God’

For 58-year-old Dr Prem Sagar, “Music is God.” The visually impaired music teacher, who has imparted his teachings to countless students, considers himself a lifelong disciple of music.

With over 33 years in the teaching profession, Dr Sagar is set to retire in two years, but he doesn’t view it as an end. “Mera utsah aur badh gaya hai,” he says. “I will establish a ‘Gurukul’ where the teachings will continue.”

Growing up, Sagar was deeply influenced by legendary singers such as Bhai Gopal Singh, Bhai Surjan Singh, Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar and music composer Ravinder Jain. “I hadn’t even started speaking when music began to comfort me,” he recalls. “Whenever I cried, my mother would take me to our neighbour’s house where they had a radio. As soon as I was near the radio, I would stop crying. That’s how radio came into our home,” Prem Sagar shared with The Tribune.

Despite his visual impairment, Sagar’s passion for music never wavered. He has earned a Postgraduate degree in Music Vocal, an MPhil and a PhD. His visual condition began to deteriorate in childhood, becoming progressively worse, which led him to attend a special school for visually impaired children after 6th grade.

Dr Sagar reflects on the dedication music requires: “Sangeet mein itni ekagrata chahiye, ki jo dekh sakta hai, vo bhi aankhein band karke hi gaata hai. Toh mujhe toh pehle se hi yeh takat mili hai,” he said. “Music needs such dedication and concentration that even someone who can see sings with their eyes closed and I have this strength by default.” Music has been his solace throughout his life.

In his three decades of service, Dr Sagar has earned immense respect from his students. “Koi Padma Bhushan is cheez se bada nahi hai, jo mere vidhyarthiyo ne mujhe diya,” an emotional Sagar shared.

When asked about the evolution of music over the years, he expressed his thoughts on modern-day songs. “Aaj ke bache cold drinks peete hain, doodh lassi bhool gaye hain, the same way, it seems like old meaningful songs have lost somewhere. There are still some good songs and singers today, but a song will leave a lasting impact only if it has powerful lyrics,” he remarked.