İsmail Babat masters bağlama after losing sight in landmine accident

İsmail Babat, a resident of the Uludere district in Şırnak, has become a master of the bağlama after losing his sight at age 10 due to a landmine accident involving a tractor. Following a teacher's recommendation, Babat learned to play the instrument despite never having seen or touched it before.

To pursue his musical education, Babat frequently walked 30 kilometers through harsh winter conditions, sometimes losing his way, but he successfully completed his training. He now teaches bağlama lessons to other visually impaired individuals. One of his students, Ahmet Bulut, noted that while the learning process requires extra effort—such as spending entire days on a single note—Babat’s guidance helps them overcome these challenges.