KOCHI: For Benny Prasad, the Bangalore-based musician, life is all about music and this passion has also made him a Guinness World Record holder from being a ‘nobody’ With a record in his kitty for being the first person to visit 245 countries in the fastest time, this solo guitarist has made his each visit memorable by staging live performances in each of these nations.Benny Prasad has visited 194 sovereign countries, 50 dependent countries and Antarctica in six years, six months and 22 days starting from May 1, 2004, to November 22, 2010.We catch him while he was in the city to perform at a live show ‘Amazing Grace Concert’ organised by Exodus at Fine Arts Hall here on Friday and Saturday. “I use concerts to interact with people and tell them my story. From being a nobody, I have become the most-travelled musician in the world. And since it is God who has brought about the changes in my life, I have to talk about him,” says Benny, who is here to urge youngsters to keep away from suicide and drugs.From Military World Games-2007 to Olympic Games 2004 to FIFA World Cup-2006 to performing before Presidents of various countries, he has done it allInterestingly, Benny has designed two guitars: the world’s first Bongo Guitar and a 54-string guitar called the Bentar.One would find it hard to believe that he could play guitar because he has been suffering from Asthma since childhood. Due to the overuse of medicines, over 40 per cent of his lungs got damaged. The doctors had given up hope on his physical health. Despite that, he still continues to be an inspiration to many people through his preaching and music.Benny entered into the musical world when he was 18. His father was a scientist and much hope was pinned on him. No one dreamt that he would be a musician. At the age of 19, he started practicing with old broken guitars at the Bible College for seven hours a day. “My parents and doctors had given up all hope owing to my illness. Frustrated with life, I tried to commit suicide at the age of 16. And, then I had an encounter with God and my life took a U-turn. I decided to dedicate my life to music to help others like me to discover the miracles within them,” says Benny.“Through music, I try to address issues like generation gap between parents and children, unfulfilled expectations and distress among youth,” says Benny. There are certain difficulties he had encountered while travelling though. “Traveling with Indian passports to other countries is very difficult. Because, we have to give bribe for getting a favour. But I have certain principles in my life so I am against corruption and bribe.”
Comments
0 comment