Prodigious phenomenon

Ishara Jayawardane

“I don’t know where it comes from... I just am!”

A disciple of the musical maestro Premasiri Khemadasa, Deshaka Sampath, 37, is something of a prodigy himself. An unassuming an extremely soft spoken man, who has a beautiful voice that astounds both foreigners and locals, Sampath envisions conducting his own opera or a concert.

Deshaka Sampath. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

Having joined Khemadasa’s academy at the age of 24, he was one of Khemadasa’s most promising pupils. He was discovered by Master Khemadasa who trained and guided him in the lore of music. The two men spent 15 years in each others company and when Khemadasa drew his last breath, Deshaka was at his side. Deshaka proudly says that his voice is so powerful that he does not require instruments. However there is an unseen force in his life that at times inspires him to do certain things. It is a superior power that he himself does not comprehend. A man of unfathomable musical talent, Deshaka’s only problem is that he is not quite identified in this country.

“I have done four teledramas up until now. These tele dramas feature my compositions. Two have been telecast until now. From my childhood and during my schooling years I have always had a passion for music. I had my initial training under for four years under Mr. Shelton Premaratne where I learnt the tabla, after that I met my greatest master – Khemadasa.

My voice was by far one of the most powerful that he had heard in his academy/ foundation, which I entered in 1996. Music was my childhood yearning. From childhood I had musical instincts, sometimes without prior training it came out of me. Without learning piano techniques I could make music. I just sat there and played. It comes from my head.

It is something amazing and original and miraculous. My zest for music is only equaled by my zest for nature,” said Sampath

It seem that his music and nature have an underlying commonality. Even as a school boys his thoughts were with nature.

Deshaka practices in the forest and in turn seems to receive something from the surroundings. This attachment has remained with him right through his life.

“Lack of resources is a major obstacle for me to do my concert. However if you hear me singing you will be amazed which is why I ask for funding. Just listen to my voice and you will be mesmerized.”

From childhood Deshaka felt a certain force in his body. “I have felt a certain attraction and I go to the forest. No one can stand in the way of this attraction.

It is a hidden attraction that I myself can’t understand, that I have had from childhood. Sitting under a tree I reach a sort of balance/ equilibrium that I cannot explain. I cannot explain how powerful that balance is. When I get the feeling I pack my bags and leave. Once I come out of this balance I need a release and music does that.”

Sampath feels that mankind has distanced itself from nature. We are acting against nature. This makes us monsters. We are now facing the consequences of our actions. “I want to create a music that brings back this balance that we have lost.

This is no easy task. I want to create a music that reconciles man and nature. This is the support I need from society. Without that I cannot do it.”