Pehli Baarish launches in KOLKATA in September 2018 supported by Rotary Club of Calcutta Midtown.
When music is played from the heart, it’s beautiful. When it’s played for a cause, it’s divine. We bring you both beautiful and divine music with “Pehli Baarish”, an Inclusive Music Band of disabled and non-disabled musician friends.
This special band was launched in Mumbai in 2014 by Singer Activist Ritika Sahni who is also the Founder-Trustee of the NGO Trinayani, which works towards creating awareness about disability issues and empowering persons with disabilities to lead a meaningful life on justified terms.
In Mumbai, “Pehli Baarish” performs once a month on a voluntary basis. With an intent of sharing the invaluable gift of music with those who may not have an opportunity to experience the same otherwise, the band performs at unconventional venues like old age homes, children’s homes, hospitals for incurable diseases, rehabilitation centres for drug abuse, cancer patients in hospitals, different shelter homes, orphanages and so on.
Involving disabled musician friends also allows us to alter the general perception that persons with disabilities are only recipients of support, only “take’. “Pehli Baarish” is their way of giving back to society. The concept is summarized by Nipun Mehta, Founder of Service Space in a Ted talk. “If everyone can share their gifts, we will discover new forms of value,” he says.
Blind musicians from National Organization of Disabled Artists (NODA) founded by our blind compere friend Kishor Gohil are an integral part of the band. We have Sachin, Ashok and Deepak on Tabla, Congo and Dholak, Augustine on Octopads, Dhawal, Sarfaraz and Nitesh on Keyboards, Ashok, Jayant and Sapna on vocals and Kishor and Budhha as the compere for our shows.
It’s a known fact that music unites all. In the past, we have had several of our non-disabled friends who have volunteered their expertise in this endeavor. In the last season, the “Pehli Baarish” band comprised of Ritika on lead vocals, along Shaoli, Rumki on Darbuka, with Sidharth on the guitars. Dyuti and Kalpana volunteered for all the sessions.
In all Pehli Baarish performances we mingle with the crowd, get them to perform with us, making it an interactive session.
In Mumbai, the third season of “Pehli Baarish” launched in June this year (2018) and six performances in 6 NGO’s in scheduled in Mumbai are being supported by Mrs Sonaa Singh. Our 1st performance on 27th June was for 110 senior residents of Kisangopal Rajpuriya Vanasprasthashrama Gorai, our 2nd at YWCA Asha Sadan for around 300 + audience on the 27th of July 2018 and on 20th of August we are performing at Umerkhadi Remand Home for Girls.
Details of the NGOS we served in the 1st and 2nd season are listed below. We are grateful to all our donors and acknowledge their support.
|
Date |
Name of Organization / NGO where the Program was conducted |
Supported by |
|
7th August, 2014 |
NGO Prerana, at their center in Falkland Road, Grant Road East, |
Mr & Ms Kanchan Rohera |
|
11th September, 2014 |
King George V Memorial Home for The Destitute, Mahalaxmi |
Jhaverbhai Tarjabhaipai Smarak Trust |
|
31st October, 2014 |
Acworth Leprosy Hospital in Wadala |
Jai Subramaniam & Hemalata Ramaih |
|
27th November, 2014 |
Residents of Urja, A Shelter for Runaway & Homeless Young Women. Dadar (E) |
Jai Subramaniam & Hemalata Ramiah |
|
6th December, 2014 |
At the Oberoi Mall during the WDD Celebrations, 2014 Goregaon (E). |
Kingston Property Services Ltd. |
|
19th June 2016 |
Umerkhadi Childrens Home, Dongri 330 children |
Kiran Gera |
|
26th July 2016 |
David Sassoons Children Home Matunga |
Sultan Trust, Bandra |
|
August 2016 |
Chembur Children Home |
Sultan Trust |
|
18th February 2017 |
Ability Foundation Chennai |
Sultan Trust |
|
21st May 2017 |
1st Inclusive Monthly Meetup Musical @ St Pauls Media Complex |
Sultan Trust |
|
18th May 2017 |
2nd Inclusive Monthly Meetup @ RIMS International School |
Sultan Trust |
ABOUT TRINAYANI: An NGO which specializes in demystifying the subject of disability through disability awareness training. We make short films, broadcast a radio show, publish literature and run a Foot Spa employing blind therapists.
RITIKA SAHNI: Our Founder Trustee Ritika Sahni leads the Pehli Baarish band. Besides being a qualified deaf educator, motivational trainer she is also professional singer-performer and playback singer. She has been working in the disability sector for 25 years and spearheads various project initiatives in this field.
All donations in cash or cheque to Trinayani are exempt under Section 80 G of the Income Tax Act 1961