Lead guitarist Brang Aung is on stage at Kandaw Gyi Public Park, in downtown Yangon. Accompanying him on stage, are a keyboard player and a drummer. All of them are blind. They’re playing alongside Irin, one of the country’s most famous singers.
The crowd is going wild including 20-year-old Khin Su Mar. She has been blind since birth. “I booked the ticket in advance to come to this show. We haven’t seen anything like this before… that blind people can perform together with famous singers. I’m very excited! Now my heart is beating very fast!”
Blind Reality is the only band in the country with all blind players. 40-year-old lead guitarist Brang Aung says he has been waiting for this day.
“This is a special chance for our band to perform here. We are very happy. In Burma, we say ‘disabled person also have talent’. Many people still only see us as blind people – but we’re more than that. Many people don’t know about our musical talent. So today we’re going to show the audience… that we can play professionally.”
The Blind Reality Band was formed more than 15 years ago. But this is their first time they have performed in public along with other non-blind musicians. The band is part of the Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind – Burma’s first NGO for the blind.
They run a school and provide vocational training for blind children. In Burma, disabled people face a lot of discrimination and have limited job opportunities. 40-year-old Kyan See has been at the school since he was ten. That’s where he learned how to read and write… and also how to play music. He now teaches music and plays the keyboard for the band, Blind Reality.
“People used to make fun of me because I’m blind. They bullied me… I couldn’t stand it anymore. I couldn’t go to school back then. But when I went to this school, I saw many disabled people who are just like me. I got my confidence back… to continue my life.”
Lead guitarist Brang Aung won first prize for composing a song for the ASEAN Para Games in January this year – a regional sports event for disabled people. “My interest is music. So when I heard people playing the guitar, I wanted to try. As a blind person, I couldn’t see how they played, so I touched the strings. My friends helped to teach me the basic techniques. Now I can’t stop playing.”
The band is now on stage with one of Burma’s most famous singers, Irin. “I've known this band since the start of my career. I went to their school to sing. I've known about their talents for a long time. Although they are blind, they’re very talented at music. Everyone has weaknesses… and what makes the difference is whether their weakness is seen or hidden.”
40-year-old Thin Thin Htwe is sweating and screaming along with the show. She says being a good friend with all band members has changed her view of blind people. “At first, when I saw blind children, I felt sorry for them. They looked strange and I felt pity. But now, I can see that they have talent and they’re very successful. I admire them very much and I will always support their performances.”
