Ganesh Eshwar Bhat of city plays keyboard with just two fingers

Mysuru:  Physical disability is only for the body and not the mind. If one is determined to achieve, any physical disability will not be a hindrance. A living proof to this theory is Ganesh Eshwar Bhat hailing from Koojalli in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada District and now residing at Gangothri Layout in city.

Ganesh plays keyboard with just two fingers. In International Para Games held in April 2019, in Sri Lanka, Ganesh has won a gold and a silver medal in 50m and 100m freestyle swimming respectively.

Ganesh came to Mysuru and joined JSS Polytechnic for the Differently Abled (JSS PDA) and obtained a Diploma in Architecture but his passion was always music.

Ganesh was born disabled with just one finger in each hand and one toe in each foot and he says that his mother and grandmother too had similar disability.

Hailing from a family of musicians, Ganesh’s father Eshwar Bhat was a good Yakshagana artiste and a flautist.

Probably, inspired by his father, Ganesh learnt Hindustani music at an young age from Shadakshara Gawai in Kumta and also started playing Jalatarang before switching over to keyboard. After coming to Mysuru, he continued learning music with Veerabhadraiah Hiremath.

Becoming an expert on keyboard, Ganesh has performed all over India and abroad. He has performed along with Shankar Shanbag, M.D. Pallavi, C. Ashwath, Puttur Narasimha Nayak, Vani Jayaram, B.K. Sumithra and others. He has also played keyboard in front of former President late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and obtained an appreciation certificate. He has also given performance on Akshavani and Doordsrshan.

Medals / Awards

Along with his win in International Para Games in Sri Lanka, Ganesh has won prizes in 50m and 100m Freestyle Swimming in Para Olympics held in Nepal in 2018.

Ganesh has won Kadambi Seetharam Iyengar Memorial Award from Suryodaya Welfare Organisation for Physically Challenged, Bengaluru; ‘Bilva’ Award from Rotary Inner Wheel Club, Mandya; ‘Kavya Dasara’ Award from Hoysala Kannada Sangha and several other awards.

In short, Ganesh has become an inspiration for all Physically Challenged people and he is ably supported by his wife Vanishree who too is a good Karnatak vocalist. Ganesh recalls that everybody discouraged and dissuaded him when he wanted to learn keyboard but went on with grit and determination to achieve his goal.