Though a blind artist, 39-year-old Meghamala Panda is captivating audience with her sweet voice. She is not only visually-challenged but also very poor. She learned the art of singing from a very young age of six being inspired by her parents. She had even not got a harmonium for rehearsals and to practise music.
Braving extreme poverty and limited opportunity in the KBK region of Odisha, Meghamala acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Hindustani Vocal Classical Music at the Allahabad Kala Parishad. And she did her Bachelor’s Degree in Odishi Vocal from the Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh.
She particularly sings popular songs of Lata Mangeskar, Asha Bhosle and Anuradha Paudwal. People flock to her for listening to varieties of songs, be it from Ollywood, Bollywood and devotional songs.
Meghamala is currently serving as a Music Teacher at the Red Cross school for the blind in Bhawanipatna. The God-gifted artist is in need of more training and funding from various sources.