A blind pianist from Nagaland says music is ‘one thing that has kept me alive’

KOHIMA, India (AP) — Takosangba Pongen had his vision for 14 years. On Sunday night, he performed for a crowd at the Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, waits to perform at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Brillante originated in the small mountain town of Kohima, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, not far from where Pongen now studies. Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, second right, is introduced to other artists by festival director Khyochano TCK, center, as he waits backstage for his performance at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, drinks tea as he waits for his turn to rehearse during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) T-shirts featuring Specially Abled Musicians (SAM) program logos are displayed for sale outside an auditorium at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Pongen had travelled more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) to Bengaluru with his white cane and sister by his side to play at the fifth edition of Brillante. Imlibenla Jamir, 30, left, guides her brother Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, to the stage for his performance at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, rehearses during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Imlibenla Jamir, 30, left, guides her brother Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, through a passageway towards an auditorium during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Artists from India’s northeastern state of Nagaland wearing traditional attire perform at a shopping mall during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) People arrive to watch performances during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Artists from India’s northeastern state of Nagaland wait backstage for their performance at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) People take their seats to watch performances at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) A white cane lies on the floor next to Takosangba Jamir, 27, a blind pianist, as he waits for his performance at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, waits for his turn to rehearse during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, performs during the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) The performance piano stands on stage after the final performance of Takosangba Pongen, 27, a blind pianist, at the two-day Brillante Piano Festival in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://apnews.com/93f4fecb3d338e4ec6ce0951bb2d7045