He is blind. Yet his life is lit up by sound and music.
Meet Anadi Koda, president of the Malyabanta Desia Natyaguru Sanskrutika Sangathana, and you will hear a youthful voice emanate from an aged man.
Koda is a singer, lyricist, musician and composer all rolled into one. The sexagenarian can play an array of tribal instruments with perfection, from Dudunga and Dampu to Dhol and Mridangam, and makes music with the Harmonium, Khajani and Gini.
Based in Biralaxamanpur village of Malkangiri district Koda has not let the loss of his eyesight trouble him. Till date, he has over 100 Odia songs to his credit, some 15 in the Desia dialect. His friends, family and co-artistes are always there to pitch in. When Koda feels the need to put his creativity on to paper.
Koda’s songs are mostly characterised by patriotism and devotion. But there is more of a reformist in his Desia works. Koda sees himself as a social activist, and bats for education to catalyse a change in society.
Sexagenarian Koda is a singer, lyricist, musician and composer, and can play an array of tribal instruments with the perfection that comes in The Indian Tribal Music in Odisha.
Koda has even dictated a whole manuscript, Kutia Adivasi, which will soon published as a book. “It is rare to come across a multi-faceted talent like Anadi,” says Ghenu Muduli, vice-president of Zilla Kala Sanskrutika Sangha of Malkangiri.
Koda began losing vision when he was just six years old. “My eyes would pain. Then, pus began forming. As there was no allopath in my village at the time. I relied on local vaidyas, who failed to cure me,” he recalls.
Unable to cope with the tragedy at such a young age and lacking palliative care, Koda struggled through life, dependent wholly on his parents, Nilakantha and Hiramani.
His life changed when he was about 10 years old. Koda chanced upon a group of Mahima Dharm yogis in his village, singing bhajan. Something about the khanjani, gini and music impelled him towards music, and he began experimenting with various instruments in the company of local musician.
By the time Koda was 15, he could play them all with dexterity. More than half a century after his first encounter with music, Koda is a maestro today. He regularly showcases his genius at state events and special occasions.
“I have been felicitated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Nalco (Damanjodi) in Koraput,” Koda lists with pride in the Indian tribal music in Odisha. Brimming with life despite infirmity, blind Anadi Koda has proved that he lost his eyesight, not his vision.
