The Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami...

To add to my earlier post:

A new blog - http://tsunamiwarning.blogspot.com has been set up by Cheeni to "to collect news and opinions on the need for a comprehensive early warning system for Tsunamis in India and S.E. Asia". An interesting article posted there says that the Indian government agencies knew an hour before disaster struck.

Also see some video clips of the tsunami waves made available by Manish Jethani through his blog: http://manish.revise.org/archives/2004/12/30/tsunami-videos/

Facts and figures

Meanwhile, the official figures of the death toll in South Asia due to the earthquake and tsunami is already being put at over 90,000. Worldover countries, organizations and individuals are gearing up to contribute in their own way to help in the relief measures for the survivors and the affected.

Being the strongest earthquake in the world since the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska, USA in 1964, this is the fourth largest since 1900.

The Guiness Book of World Records puts the highest death toll from a tsunami at 27,000, which was caused by an earthquake off the coast of Japan in 1896. Thus, the December 26 2004 tsunami is guaranteed to make a grim record in the Book with 90,000 confirmed deaths. Some estimations (by the WHO) put the death toll at more than 200,000!

To Aid the affected

Bangalore-based rock groups Thermal And A Quarter (TAAQ) and Antaragni are performing a special show "to raise funds for the victims and families of the over 9,000 Indians affected by the tsunami of December 26".

This is being held on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at St John's Auditorium, Koramangala, Bangalore. Donor passes are priced at Rs 99.99. The event starts at 8.30 pm. Be there!

More...

The Magic and Allied Arts Development & Research Institute (MAADRI) is hosting Maya Jadoo - The Mega Magic Show on January 2nd, 2005 at the Udaya School Grounds, Vijayanagar, Bangalore in aid of the earthquake and tsunami affected families. Magician Prahlad Acharya is addressing a press conference at the Bangalore Press Club with regard to this at 1:30 PM today. Visit the mayajadoo blog for more details...

Nakul

The Masked Magician...

Yesterday we in India saw what was the fourth episode in the masked magician series on Star World. At the end of it all, we saw the "unmasking" of the masked magician, and were introduced to Valentino, ostensibly introduced as one of the top 10 illusionists in the world.

Valentino then came forth and poured his heart out to the world about how whatever he did was for the betterment of the art, and the furtherance of the same. His eloquence notwithstanding, the words that came out of his mouth sounded hypocritical to say the least...

I present this article written by magic.about.com on 30th October 1998, when the series was first telecast by Fox Tv in the USA, where the authors say: The most hated magician in magic... the "Masked Magician", a.k.a. "Valentino, a.k.a. Lenny Montano has become a magic pariah. Why would anyone do this? read article >>

Did Valentino really do this series of exposure due to the reasons he claimed: "because of my love for magic", and to prevent the nightmare that "magic was going to be forgotten"?

I, like the author, think NOT.

Interesting also that while the producers claimed that the world of magicians was waiting with bated breath to find out the true identity of the masked magician, while in fact the true identity being Lenny Montano was known within "36 hours after the first special aired".

For now, I will leave you with the article...

A bolt from the deep... literally!

Hi All,

Trust my magician friends the worldover are enjoying the holiday season with their friends and families, and also I hope a busy season of magical performance (psychic phenomena if you please)...

India as you know has had to face a grave nightmare due to the ocean bed earthquake and subsequent Tsunami wave. Being the first and only Tsunami faced by India in modern history, we were, and remain, quite shocked by the over 24,000 lives lost in South Asia, among which southern India accounts for over 7,000 lives, with over 12,000 lives claimed in Sri Lanka.

All this is a matter of 10 minutes. Nature does indeed have a way to remind us time and again, that we are but pawns in the cosmic universe. Mere specks, akin to dust grains, in the vast expanse of the universe.

While I am sure (at least hopeful) that my friends the worldover, are aware of this human catastrophe, if the global media has given it at least some coverage, I pass on this url to you so that you can read some of the heartrending stories of what is termed the fourth greatest earthquake in man's history: http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/27toll.htm

Sorry for a non-magical post. But I trust this finds some interest...

May God be with you!

Nakul

PS: While this mail is not really to entice support to the anguished and displaced families, those of us who want to contribute in their own little way please visit: http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/27tsunami8.htm

Also visit http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/ - The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog for news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts.

Another magic show... This time for Planetasia.

Performed a show for Planetasians yesterday at the Capitol. It was nice meeting up with old colleagues and friends. Truly, there's something about that company, may be because it was my first company, and also the one where I did my internship...

Whatever the explanation, there is indeed something about Planetasia that makes it a part of you... that never lets go. The best answer I can find to this paradox is in Pradeep Kar's words: "Once a Planetasian, always a Planetasian".

Little wonder then that I am extremely satisfied with the show that I presented for them yesterday; the reward for which could NEVER have been more, than as expressed by Pradeep in his speech (reproduced here and at my site as best as I can remember it...) :

Personally I do not believe anything is really possible with magic. It has to be a combination of mechanics, technology, art, and science, at various levels. All through his performance I was watching intently to try and find some logic, some explanation for what he did. But I have failed to apply any logic to it. I have no idea how he does what he does! Thank you Nakul. That was a great performance!

As I said, THAT is my reward. Not too sure if something else will come close to those words in the near future...

Nakul

PS: Thanks Pradeep, Bekay, Suresh, et al. It was indeed a pleasure and honour to entertain you.

The legend of the Indian Rope Trick: An interview with Peter Lamont

Now that I have a dedicated blog to write about magical, and the not so magical, topics, I thought I will post links to my in-depth interview (in August 2004) with Dr Peter Lamont, with special reference to his new book 'The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick'... This interview appears in three parts at Rediff.com

'Every culture believes in some sort of magic'
'With the notion of the mystic East, the people in the West may find an inexplicable mystery in India somehow more impressive, more mysterious, more mystical,' says magic researcher Peter Lamont. Read on...
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/aug/17inter.htm

Part II: 'Magic is about the effect, not how it's done'
In the second part of his interview, Peter Lamont delves into how magicians use psychology as an important tool in their performances and what constitutes magic. Magic is not about getting something up your sleeve. It is, he says, about getting something up your sleeve without anybody noticing. Read on...
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/aug/18inter1.htm

Part III: 'Magic brings you closer to reality'
In this concluding part Peter Lamont expresses his unabashed admiration for Indian magic, though he is certain that the Indian Rope Trick never existed! Read on...
http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/aug/19inter.htm

Hope some of us find this an interesting read.

Nakul

Pros and Cons - Part 2... And a confession!

A Note: While this piece is not intended to support the exposure of the secrets of legerdemain, it tries to analyse what good, if anything, can come out of such exposure. Somewhere down the line, this has turned into a personal rant... So bear with me, while I bare it all!
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Continued from Exposure of magical secrets: Pros and Cons (Part 1)

Exposure of magical secrets may be briefly looked on in three ways:
A: 'Educational' Exposure - Exposure by Rationalists, and people fighting superstitions, and fraudulent mediums.
B: 'Focussed' Exposure - Exposure through magic books, kits, videos, et al.
C: 'Mass' Exposure - Exposure (blatant as they seem!) through mass media like TV, et al.

Magicians have always indulged in selective exposure of magical secrets. Whether it was Jean Robert Houdin, John Maskelene, or Harry Houdini, or numerous other magicians who have utilised the art of magic to expose the secrets "as used by" fraudulent psychics and mediums.

There are many a rationalists today, including magicians, who are exposing the well-kept secrets of magic to "prevent" its 'unscrupulous' usage by conmen.

There are many of us (magicians) who consider this exposure OKAY. But do not agree with the exposure of the same on prime-time TV. Is this an issue that can be CATEGORISED clearly, as such? Is a clear-cut demarcation possible?

The problem here is: Who is going to decide what is justifiable exposition, and what is not? This, as is clear, is relative, and can indeed be a very personal issue.

Next comes the "teaching/sharing" of magic secrets through books, kits, videos, et al.

Some of us (magicians) find this too agreeable. The reason stated: Furtherance of the art. The argument here is: After all, these kits and books and videos will be bought and used ONLY by those interested in the art of magic.

As my good friend, guide, and mentor, Sam Dalal says: This is akin to the various cookery books that are sold in book shops. The books will be opened and read ONLY by those interested in cookery. And the fact that a good recipe has been shared will NOT stop people from relishing the same.

I too learnt magic, and secrets thereto, from a Magic Kit, and then various books, and then many other means. I learnt what is known as the Professor's Nightmare, a classic effect where three unequally-sized ropes magically become equal, from a "Learn Magic" kit, at the age of 10.

And it still remains one of my most entertaining magic effects after 17 years (11 years of professional performing) liked by ALL ages! The same is true of the English Rope Trick, learnt from the same magic kit, where a rope cut into half, is magically restored!

Sam is very clear with his viewpoint on this matter (which has evolved and changed over the decades); he feels any exposure of the secrets of the art of magic (while having an immediate adverse repercussion on the performers) helps further the art and its proponents in the long run.

Thus, in simple words, teaching magical effects to like-minded (read: those interested in learning to perform magic) is not, and does not, amount to "exposure" (or at least most of us do not look at it that way!).

However the mandate seems to be in favour that "teaching" (read: sharing/exposing) the same (magical secrets) over a mass media (read: TV) will, and does, amount to exposure.

Then again, is this entirely true?

Using Sam's analogy (and trying to look at this issue without bringing in emotions), I can now present another perspective to this viewpoint (Please bear with me):

If NOT for the exposes (through books, acts, performances, et al.) by Houdin, Maskelene, Houdini, and more, magic would definitely have NOT attained the status it has.

Speaking purely from a personal experience, I know I have benefitted (?) during my hay days (when I was trying to learn more about this art of mystery, and vying to be a Mandrake) from the "exposures" that transpired around the world.

I have, for a matter of fact, sat glued in front of the television, waiting for the end of the TV serial, when the magician would "share" a secret with his audience. I have then put in loads of effort in trying to "reproduce" the props exactly as explained... practiced the same; and gone on to try MY HAND at enthralling people around me with what was to me (and them?) MAGIC!

I remember with gratitude a family friend, and I am thankful to him (Thanks Subannamaam!), who shared his collection of magic videos (which also included one episode of the masked magician!) with a starry-eyed 15-year-old, who had this inexplicable and innate urge to learn to perform magic.

Of course, the Paul Daniels and David Copperfields of the World (through the videos) contributed greatly to improving my performance, and helped convert the "tricks" I learnt into strong magical effects.

The fact of the matter is, when I was a non-magician (wanting to be a magician) I looked up to these exposes to further my knowledge of the art.

And today, being (what people call) an accomplished magical entertainer, I seem to have turned into a hypocrite, to proclaim: No Exposures!

How is it that I (along with most) forget that I am a magician today SIMPLY because of some 'bad' performers, whose shows inadvertently TAUGHT ME magic? How can I also forget the 'unethical' few, who intentionally gave away the secrets? Guess I should be thankful of these folks, like I AM of Lee Falk, who created Mandrake, and thus the urge in me, to become one!

Thanks Sam! For opening my eyes. And pointing out the hypocrite in me.

While I still do NOT think it is right to expose the secrets of magic (Aah! The hypocrisy of it all!), I now realise that it is indeed very difficult to draw the line... For the line is relative. Relative to one's exposure to (read: knowledge of) magic per se.

I should also NOT forget the adage: "Necessity is the mother of all inventions". For now many more fabulous, unbelievable, and truly magical effects SHALL BE INVENTED, as there is a need to invent them.

Lest I forget, the greatness of the Professor's Nightmare and the English Rope Trick (some of the MOST exposed of magical secrets), like many of the other classics of magic, lies in their ability to withstand certain amounts of exposure, and still mystify and entertain in the hands of a good performer.

But the question remains: What about the numerous others not so talented in add-ons like story-telling, acting, et al? They will, and do have, problems arising out of this (and other) exposure.

Nakul

Exposure of magical secrets: Pros and Cons (Part 1)

Every story has two or more sides to it: Old Jungle saying.

And abiding by the journalism adage, let me try to state the pros and cons of the exposure of magic secrets.

Over the years, many a people have termed magic as the ultimate of all arts. It is said that the other arts aspire to attain the status of magic. That is the reason that an incredible dance/music performance, or even a painting is described as being magical. This statement has been famously attributed to Magician P C Sorcar Jr by Lee Siegel in his book Net of Magic.

But the basis of magic lies in its mystery. It is no secret that the art of magic survives solely on the basis of the element of mystery that it creates in the minds of the audience.

Thus, the moment the secret behind a magic effect is divulged, this mystery, the enchantment, is lost. And magic is relegated to the position of any other performance art like dance or music. The people can see (and appreciate) that it is skillfull and artistic, but its essence, the Charm, is lost.

And therein lies the opposition to the exposure of secrets of magical effects.

The second opposition stems from the fact that there are many a magicians whose livelihood is based on their entertaining shows. Now the moment the secrets are OUT, the enchantment and charm is lost, and thereby the audience too...

Thus, magicians, like any other professionals, do not take kindly to people who are making them lose business, and thus lose livelihood.

The third issue at hand is the fact that magicians are mere custodians of magical secrets. Not the owners. They have received these secrets passed on to them by their peers, guarded through ages, so that they may utilise the same to entertain and enthrall their audiences the world-over.

As stated in an earlier post, the magicians are like the bank employee who has been entrusted with the responsibility of being the custodian of the treasury. In this case the treasury contains the entertainment value of magic. The magician, akin to the bank custodian, has NO right over the treasury per se. Simply because they do not own it (If they did, then it would change the issue). After all, we wouldn't want the bank custodian to run away with our money, would we?

Thus, the above three points more-or-less summarise the opposition to the exposure of magical secrets.

While there is definitely very less or no support to the exposure of magical secrets, let us try to analyse if ANY good can come out of an exposure of magical secrets.

Why do magicians expose the secrets of legerdemain? Are there some exposures that are "acceptable," while others are not? Are there any hidden or evident advantages that emanate from said exposure?

The answers to these questions, and more... in the next post!

Nakul

Schedule announced...

It's official...

"BREAKING THE MAGICIANS CODE - 1" is beginning this Monday, December 6, 2004 at 2200 hours.

Guess its time to examine the pros and cons of magic exposures... Can there really be ANY good in this exercise?

The Magicians Code of Ethics

Reproduced from the International Brotherhood of Magicians website: go there >

On May 8, 1993, the IBM Board of Directors approved the following Code of Ethics jointly with the Society of American Magicians. This was the result of a cooperative effort to work together for the betterment of magic.

All members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians agree to:

1) Oppose the willful exposure to the public of any principles of the Art of Magic, or the methods employed in any magic effect or illusion.

2) Display ethical behavior in the presentation of magic to the public and in our conduct as magicians, including not interfering with or jeopardizing the performance of another magician either through personal intervention or the unauthorized use of another's creation.

3) Recognize and respect for rights of the creators, inventors, authors, and owners of magic concepts, presentations, effects and literature, and their rights to have exclusive use of, or to grant permission for the use by others of such creations.

4) Discourage false or misleading statements in the advertising of effects, and literature, merchandise or actions pertaining to the magical arts.

5) Discourage advertisement in magic publications for any magical apparatus, effect, literature or other materials for which the advertiser does not have commercial rights.

6) Promote the humane treatment and care of livestock used in magical performances.

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Guess this applies to all IBM and SAM members, and also to the Magic Circle (?). But what about magicians, per se? Those who do NOT (anymore) belong to any such society.

Is there something we can do to prevent their willfull (or even inadvertent) exposure of secrets of magic? Especially since they do NOT own these secrets... and are supposed to be the safeguarders of the same?

We can't have the security guard who is entrusted with the job to safeguard the money in the treasury, make away with the same. Can we?

Nakul

The World Alliance of Magicians... and more...

The World Alliance of Magicians (WAM) (set up in 1997-98) was dedicated to preserve the wonder and amazement of the Magical Arts for the general public, to protect the secrets of the magic profession from exposure and to reinforce the positive contributions of the Magical Arts to society.

In December 2003, Walter 'Zaney' Blaney, the President-Emeritus of WAM, wrote in his "Open Letter to the Magic Community":

The World Alliance of Magicians (W.A.M.) has been in existence for just over five years. During that time, we have had our successes and failures as we have battled for the preservation of ethics in magic, the protection of the mystery of magic and the defense for the inventors, creators and manufacturers of proprietary illusions. But to borrow a quote from the Oracle in the movie "The Matrix Revolutions", "Everything that has a beginning has an end." And so, the end has come for W.A.M.

Further, Zaney explained:

The few of us officers who have "fought the good fight" have decided that the most important goal that we have accomplished was to raise interest among the magic organizations in regards to ethics in magic. Now the I.B.M., S.A.M. and The Magic Circle, along with many other organizations around the world have "changed the focus" of their own ethics committees toward dealing with the topics of magic exposures, rip-off manufacturers and the protection of magical inventor's rights.

The officers of W.A.M. have decided "our work here is now done" and we are going to return to the pursuit of our other interests. These past several years would not have been scattered with success stories without the assistance of many of you who are reading this now.

Sadly, the WAM is no more with us as an organization, but the people are...

I wonder if setting up an IAM (Indian Alliance of Magicians) will benefit us in any way... Or will it just add to the myriad of magical societies and clubs we already have in abundance in the country?

The fact that this is NEITHER a membership-fees oriented, NOR publicity-oriented organisation might help... But will it be enough to control the self-inflated egos that we have?

Can we come together for a common cause? Can we take it upon ourselves to put aside our professional and personal differences, and unite in a common cause... That of the betterment of the art of legerdemain?

Waiting responses...

Nakul

A question to the Indian magician community?

The Context:
Recently, I had received a mail from Magician R Rajesh Kumar, bringing to light how some magicians are teaching professional magic tricks in TV programmes, in the guise of "share a secret" with the audience.

Rajesh, vehemently opposed any exposure of "standard" and "professional" secrets. His SOS call to the magician fraternity of India, through the IndianMagique eGroup seemed to fall of deaf ears , mostly due to the magicians being busy with their own worries. And sadly, that list on nonrespondents included even yours truly.

The Follow Up

I finally decided to make some time (and some amends) and write in my thoughts on this subject, to the Indian magicians fraternity, in the light of Star World telecasting the notorious 'Masked Magician Series' or 'Greatest Secrets of Magic... Revealed'.

I reproduce my letter at this Blog (what better way to start it than such a controversial topic?), and plan to keep publicising my thoughts on this to the Indian public...

The world magicians community had fought this evil, to what was a very limited success. And I really do not have much hopes of the Indian fraternity overcoming the same...

Here goes for nothing...

The Letter

Dear Brother and Sister Magicians of India,

Magician Rajesh recently wrote in to us at IndianMagique eGroup, and expressed his fears regarding exposure of magic on prime time TV.

I guess most of us did not react either because we were too busy to react, or because it did not impact us directly.

I would prefer thinking it was the first reason... although I fear that most of us in fact did not react dues to the second reason...

Just in case we have NOT read Rajesh's post, I am retaining it in this mail, so that you can read it too...

The immediate reason for this mail, is to try and rekindle some interest in this topic. A topic that is going to touch our lives (and shows) in a few days... Star World is going to telecast the Masked Magician Series in India! Yes the feared "Greatest Secrets of Magic... Revealed".

It's time all of us, who sat aback lazily (including even those that watched the said Series on pirated CDs), sat up. We might have been happy to see the exposure videos as we bought them from (un)scrupulous magic dealers across the country.

Nothing wrong in that (?), as they were selling a recording of something that appeared on TV (although not in India), and charging only for the CD-burning costs... Or at least that is what the argument would be.

Wake up people.

Now people all over India, and Asia, and the world (as if we are bothered about those...) are going to sit in their living rooms and learn how to change a lady into a lion, how to levitate a woman, and even to cut a woman in half... All so nicely explained, courtesy the masked magician. We now know who he was... not that it helped!

Tell me. Tell yourself. What are you going to do about this?

Yours in magic,

Nakul