"I found a ray of hope when I was just about to give up.” This is more than just a statement from instrumentalist Bheem Kumar, who has endured significant odds to reach his dream goal. Hard work and determination often pay off, and this journey of Mr. Bheem Kumar will definitely inspire everyone who dares to dream.
Hailing from the Nawada district of Bihar, Kumar's dream of becoming a professional instrumentalist started in 2014. Due to a lack of stipulations, training, and opportunities, he moved to Mumbai, "the city of dreams," in November 2019 with nothing but hope and optimism. He started working as a security guard while simultaneously looking for music classes to enrol in. However, dreams turn to nightmares and come crashing down within months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I have no idea how I managed the five months without any income." "Yet I did it somehow," he adds. He is not looking for validation or a pat on the back for his struggles. Struggle is a part of life, and he doesn't shy away from challenges. He is shy and a man of few words, yet he considers it a privilege to meet some of the nicest people during his worst time.
Down and distraught, he returned to his hometown and started attending music classes nearby with a side job to pay the bills. Well, things were not exactly going well, so he decided to try his luck once again and came to Mumbai in March 2022.
"This time, I was determined to give all my time to learning music, but the main problem for a lower middle-class guy like me is always money."
"The course fees were extremely high; they were beyond my budget." I could not find a music academy of my choice and even endured rude behaviour from organisations because I was not presentable enough. My English is not perfect, and I don't exactly fit their profile of a "perfect candidate."
This was the second time he failed to achieve his dream, and he has decided to quit his dream and leave the city forever. Kumar was all packed to return to his hometown. Then a miracle happened. He was visiting Goregaon East, and he decided to search for music academies nearby. This is how he got introduced to Mr. Shreyash Shandiliya, CEO of Soulful Musik Academy.
After a few exchanges of words with Mr. Shandilya, Kumar expressed his desire to be a musician, including his financial situation.
"Shreyash Sir asked me to show what I have learned, and I gave everything I had in the three minutes I had." "I packed all my years of learning into those 3 minutes; the rest is history."
"I was enrolled in the academy's sponsorship programme with a promise that I would give my best."
This may sound like a script straight out of a movie, but it's the true story of Bheem Kumar, who is currently learning ten instruments while simultaneously working as a music teacher.
Soulful Musik Academy is a leading music and art academy for candidates seeking professional-level music, singing, and dancing courses. For years, the academy has helped passionate people from lower-income families with its sponsorship program.
Under this program, anyone can help someone achieve their dream through donations. Running a charity programme requires financial aid that goes for rent, utilities, amenities, maintenance, fees for teachers, equipment, and other costs incurred by the academy. Soulful Musik Academy is currently seeking donations that go directly toward providing fees for the students who cannot afford them.
The link to the donation page is below.
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