Mesmerising Indian Magic...

The Magic Academy, Trivandrum organised Mazma - the street magicians convention on December 10 & 11, 2005. Well attended by nearly 30 itinerant magicians from all over India, Mazma was a welcome change from the trade-of-the-mill magic conventions.

Many traditional magic tricks, historically acnowledged to be India's contribution to the world of magic, were performed, mostly with the same devastating effect.

Legendary effects like the Indian Mango Trick, open air Levitation, Indian Basket Trick, were as good as they come.

The gory, and thereby scary, effects included the knife through neck and decapitation of the tongue.

The most amazing performance was without doubt the magic of 83 year old Vadi from Gujarat.

How he transforms a brick to a live slithering king cobra inside of a second, and in the heat of the moment, is nothing less than a miracle. Jadugar Vadi has to be simply the best magician in the world, one that David Copperfield would be proud to take lessons in misdirection.

Personally I would have liked to see Vadiji to receive the Jadu Rathna award, as there was no one (nor do I think there will be anyone) worthy of conjuring up snakes and scorpions from thin air as he does.

I stick to and reiterate my opinion that it was an injustice to his greatness, and wizardry, that he was compared to the other performers.

This is not to take away anything from the prowess of the other performers, nor is this in any way criticising the organisers. This is simply a solemn acknowledgement that Vadi has to be one of the very best performers in the field of magic -- one that the masters of magic would take credit in learning the nuances of real misdirection.

It was an honour for me to be associated with this historic event, even more so as a jury member. I thank Magician Muthukad for organising such a august event, and moreso for giving me an opportunity to be a part of it.

I would fail in my journalistic duties if I do not mention Magician Ramana (Wouter Bijdendijk) from Holland. Getting to know and exchange views on magic and mentalism, especially Indian magic with Wouter was great fun, and saw the blossoming of what I hope will be a good friendship.

Daniel Home, The 'First' Psychic: Book by Peter Lamont

Dr Peter Lamont, the author of The Rise & Fall of the Indian Rope Trick [read The legend of the Indian Rope Trick: An interview with Peter Lamont], and co-author of Magic in Theory, has published his latest book: THE FIRST PSYCHIC: The Peculiar Mystery of a Notorious Victorian Wizard.


Picture Credit: TOBY WILLIAMS - image sourced from The Evening News

As the title suggests the eminent historian and magician traces the life and times of the "first psychic" Daniel Dunglas Home. Judging by the reviews of the book in various publications, Peter seems to have some out with another good book on the history of the magical arts.

Sarah Howden in A spirited look at an enigma [Evening News - Scotland] quotes Peter as saying,

"He was the first, of course, and the word psychic was actually invented for him.

It's not deception, not hallucination, the phenomena were real and it wasn't supernatural - it was natural. So, in 1871, after experiments with him were done, scientists came up with the phrase "psychic" to explain it."

In another part of the article, Howden writes:

"Home remains the single most interesting person in the history of psychic phenomena," enthuses Peter. "He's the exemplar. If you want to decide whether psychics are real or not, then look at the best case. If he's not real, then the rest aren't.

"It's in my very nature to be sceptical, but when I read some of his accounts, I just don't know how he did what he did. I've been a magician since I was a small boy, I've performed magic for years and I couldn't do what he did under the same conditions."

And before we start calling Peter a debunker (although he would not entirely disagree with that thought), let's read more of what Peter has said to Howden:

"I believe the stories," he says firmly. "As a historian, you look at the evidence. I believe that witnesses described what they feel they saw. What nobody can get at is what really happened. Is what they reported what actually happened, and if it is, how do we know there's no trickery involved?

"But, yes, I believe the stories. Do I believe that's what really happened, though? Well, you never know," he adds, with a smile. "He was the best magician I've ever come across, and if it was trickery I have no clue how he did it."

Kenny Farquharson in Psychic who outraged Charles Dickens [The Sunday Times - Scotland] writes:

Himself a magician, Lamont routinely uses his knowledge to demonstrate how allegedly inexplicable phenomena can in fact be easily explained. But even Lamont cannot account for some of Home’s exploits.

“Virtually everybody else in this field was caught cheating at some point, but he never was. I’ve been a magician since I was a wee boy, and I have worked in parapsychology for a decade. And I don’t know how he did some things. Nobody has explained them to date.”

The most impressive example for Lamont is a demonstration Home performed in Amsterdam in 1858, where a group of renowned sceptics gathered in a hotel dining room around a table large enough to sit 14 people.

The sceptics held candles above and underneath the table so they could see what was going on at all times, and closely observed Home himself. Yet Home was able to make the table rise off the ground, and then to make it so heavy it was impossible to lift.

“They monitored the room constantly for signs of deception, but weren’t able to find any. They refused to believe it was the work of spirits, but they said they had no idea what was going on,” says Lamont.

In A talent for ectoplasm published in The Guardian, Philip Hoare cites a case which has not been followed up in Peter's book:

Home refused to be paid for his miracles. It was a point claimed in his favour by those who believed, but one which at the same time exacerbated his need for patrons. The homeless Home roamed from London to St Petersburg and Paris, entertaining emperors and aristocrats. Expelled from Rome for necromancy, he retreated to London, where his supporters installed him in his own Spiritual Athenaeum in Sloane Street, "a rallying-point for spiritualists and their friends, and where séances, under judicious circumstances, should be held". Here Home was "adopted" by a wealthy widow, Jane Lyon, who settled £24,000 on him - only to claim it back when the spirits advised her otherwise.

The case ended up in the High Court, where a Wildean dialogue (sadly absent from Lamont's book) ensued. "Did you ever kiss Mr Home?" Mrs Lyon was asked. "Well, I once just put my lips to his forehead", she admitted. "But only once. You see, I am not so fond of kissing." For his part, Home complained: "I was a mere toy to her, I felt my degradation more and more with every day that passed." The final judgment flattered neither party, declaring that spiritualism was "mischievous nonsense, well calculated, on the one hand, to delude the vain, the weak, the foolish, and the superstitious; and, on the other hand, to assist the prospects of the needy adventurer".

After stating that...

Personally, I'd rather have read more of Home's relationships with figures such as Ruskin, who told Home: "I believe you are truly doing me the greatest service and help that one human being can do another."

... Hoare ends his review with the words:

None the less, this is a well researched and illuminating book. [...] To many, Home was just a Yankee conjuror; but Lamont's entertaining essay in human credibility shows that he was much more than that.

While I am yet to read the book myself, knowing Peter and his earlier works, I am confident that this book would be more than an interesting read for anybody interested in the magical arts, especially mentalism and psychic entertainment.

I will of course share my thoughts after I have managed to get myself a copy of this what-sounds-to-be extremely interesting book.

Nakul


More reviews:

For all its levity - and laughter arises like - oh, like a piano - this is a serious and thought-provoking book about how we witness and interpret the world. My own uncanny powers forecast a feast called Christmas, not far distant, when The First Psychic should, if there is any justice, mysteriously levitate from bookshop shelves and appear in intelligent people's stockings.

- Hilary Mantel in Unearthly powers in The New Statesman.

This is a clever book, and occasionally a self-admiring one: Lamont's relentlessly ironic tone can produce sentences that are too ready to slap themselves on the back. However, it is precisely this mixture of self-doubt and self-belief that keeps Lamont's work so close to the world he is describing. Not a wonderful biography, then, but entertaining enough to keep its readers wondering.

- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst in The medium is the message in The Daily Telegraph

Pulling the hat from the magician...A nice spoof that was!

A nice spoof that was!

The magician was busy entertaining the gathered...



... while the briefcase he was performing from was 'vanished' by another!



Moral of the story: There's no rabbit without the hat...

PS: All this was done in jest... a magical super blooper.

Thank you David. You were simply Magical!

It has been quite a long time since I did justice to my blog... As a matter of fact such a long time since I write anything. Trust me when I say, there's a lot that happened in this period of time, and many a blogs will be written on that.

And what better way to return to the world of LJ, than typing in my most magical experience till date.

Here's a transcript of a chat with a magician friend:

Friend: hi hr u
Me: excited... elated
Friend: ?
Me: I am watching David Copperfield today \:D/
Friend: ?
Friend: cd
Friend: which one
Me: no way! live. in person. why else would I be so excited
Me: the one and only David Copperfield. Live in person. on stage
Me: \:D/
Friend: which site
Friend: web r tv ????????
Me: abe saale
Me: don't you understand...?
Me: I am watching him live, on stage, in person... sitting in the third row of the auditorium and watching his show!
Friend: ???

Yes, That's how unbelieveable it would sound to me too if somebody had told me a month back that I would be watching David Copperfield live in action. So I really can't blame my friend.

And if you think this was a one off, here's another magician friend's reaction (edited for space and better comprehension) to my Yahoo! Messenger status message that read "It was simply MAGICAL! David IS the best...":

Friend2: i just read ur status message... which david are u talking about???
Friend2: david berglas??? copperfield???
Me: Copperfield
Friend2: and reasons for stating that..
Me: I had the good fortune to watch David Copperfield yesterday
Friend2: in person or video??

Like I said, it does come across as simply unbelievable that me, a magician from India could even watch David's show... Let alone meet him. And there in lies an untold sadness...
But dreams do come true.

And it was such a dream that came true this 10th of October 2005, when I got the good fortune to watch David Copperfield in person, and that too sitting in the third row!! All this thanks to a friend (Thanks Toby!) who managed to get me the tickets in time.

The experience of watching David was, for want of more apt words, truly magical. Sitting there I was equally dumbstruck and magnanimously entertained when a (I may be wrong about the exact model) 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible appeared atop four pillars set on stage, with spectators standing right under it!

I was there clapping furiously when the auditorium stood up in a standing ovation when David magically transported an audience member to the sea coast of Jamaica in a jiffy. And of course I was there clapping feverishly when David vanished about a dozen spectators from the stage, and reappeared them back among the audience.

Not to forget mention, this was the first and only show of my life where the audience presented a standing ovation to a performer not once, but on two back-to-back occasions... And if David had come back on stage after the final bow, one more time, I would have fallen to the floor exhausted from all that clapping.

All in all, like I said, it was a MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.

I now look forward to the day when I meet and chat up with David Copperfield. Yeah, you may say, I am dreaming. I say, I have every right to!

Nakul

Psychic's Crystal Ball Sets Apartment Ablaze

Psychic's Crystal Ball Sets Apartment Ablaze

August 15, 2005 2:17 p.m. EST
All Headline News

Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Paris, France (AHN) - Bet he didn't see that one coming! A French amateur psychic's powers are under serious scrutiny after his crystal ball starts a fire that engulfs his apartment.

British tabloid The Times reports the ball caused a fire that burned two other flats and rendered several more uninhabitable.

Herve Vandrot, 24, a botany student at Edinburgh University, left his crystal ball on a windowsill while he visited the city's Royal Botanical Garden.

When he returned, he was shocked to find his top floor apartment in flames.

He ran into the apartment to retrieve some course work and was dragged out of the building by some of the 35 firefighters who tackled the blaze.

Vandrot had been living in the apartment for just two weeks.

A fire department spokesman says strong sunlight traveling through glass acts like a magnifying glass, concentrating the sun's rays on an object and igniting it.

---

As they say: Bet he did not see this one coming! Sadly.

Nakul

PS: Thanks to Franklin for passing this on...

Everyone can read minds! Can you?

Ker Than in LiveScience.com reports Scientists Say Everyone Can Read Minds, and writes:

Empathy allows us to feel the emotions of others, to identify and understand their feelings and motives and see things from their perspective. How we generate empathy remains a subject of intense debate in cognitive science.

Some scientists now believe they may have finally discovered its root. We're all essentially mind readers, they say.

The idea has been slow to gain acceptance, but evidence is mounting.

-----

Now is this not something mentalists and psychic entertainers have been saying (claiming?) all along?

For those that were not, I am sure there's enough in this article that warrants a thought to what can be utilised to build the right patter, even a right persona.

One more thing to watch out for is the new film Suspect Zero, which is based on the concept of Remote Viewing. This too could help in developing one's persona and build a 'perfect' premise for magical entertainers, especially those in the genre of mentalism.

Nakul

PS: Thanks to Brian and Tony who sounded me off about the article and film respectively.

To question a quotation...

For some time now, I have admired the quotation:

For those who believe, no explanation is necessary;
For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.

Having recently noticed that many a magician and mentalist were attributing this quotation to Joseph Dunninger, the 'father of mentalism" I had taken it for granted.

Today in trying to find out if this attribution indeed were true, I came across many websites that were attributing this quote to numerous others. While Quotation-related websites either did not list this quote, or attributed it to "Author Unknown", like in the case of QuoteDB.

I for one would really like to know the original author of this beautiful quote. Anybody in a position to help?

Nakul

Of Smoke & Mirrors... A magical ezine!

Angelo Stagnaro, the editor of SMOKE & MIRRORS says, "There are approximately 4100 subscribers on my e-list and I would like to double that number this year. The more magicians that subscribe, the more magic events and information can be accessed and shared."

If you are magician, and NOT subscribed to the Free eZine on Magic which brings your way loads of news, events, tricks, and more, you ARE indeed missing something. As the blurb goes, it is "A teaching e-zine for magicians throughout the world"... subscribed by magicians in over 66 countries!

Take my word for it. Go to Smoke & Mirrors , and subscribe NOW to one of the best ezines in the world of magic today.

Nakul

PS: Angelo asked that "everyone who reads this e-zine to please forward a copy of it to at least one other magician". I thought it best to post this blog and reach out to many more!

Indian magicians and piracy: Ingredients for a controversy

Indian magicians, and Indian Magic, were made proud, when the March 2004 issue of the Linking Ring (The official publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians) carried a feature article titled "Moral Magicians of India," which documented how the magicians of this country were involved in social and development communication.

By coincidence, the same issue also (through a report submitted by Ring 206) documented that Magician Alex (a.k.a Dr Alex) has purportedly earned an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, for the Longest Magic Show by an Individual Performer for a Paying Audience.

And before anybody could bask in this glory of an Indian mention in the Linking Ring (We have very few mentions, especially as feature articles...), we have been enbroiled in what is a serious controversy, to say the least.

The 'Ring Report' submitted by Ring 206 and published in pages 135-136 of the The Linking Ring, states:

On 9th January 2005, Dr. Alex our Vice President staged his Solo Illusion show for four hours non-stop. Dr. Alex is having almost all latest illusions performed by famous magicians throughout the world. In India he is the only proud owner of a number of old and latest illusions. He is also popularly known for holding the Guinness World Record by performing the longest magic show non-stop for 24 hours.

Andre Kole, billed as World Renowned Illusionist and Magician, has (quite rightly) taken serious exception to the "unauthorised" and "pirated" use of some of Andre Kole's original illusions by Magician Alex. These illusions were visible for all through the photographs that accompanied the report by Ring 206.

Kole, in an open letter addressed to Walter Blaney, and other highly esteemed practitioners of the art of magic, (published in Tim Quinlan's InsideMagic.com), complains to the international magic fraternity and the IBM Ethics & Grievances Committee about the "thievery" and "piracy" of his orignial inventions, and writes:

But another major concern for the I.B.M. is the fact that Dr. Alex is the Vice-President of I.B.M. Ring 206. Clearly he is in violation of the I.B.M.’s Code of Ethics. According to the IBM website, Dr. Alex has clearly violated two of the six rules as agreed to by the I.B.M. Board of Directors in joint cooperation with the Society of American Magicians as agreed on May 8, 1993. These two rules are as follows:

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.

Even if no more evidence were presented, these two facts are enough to warrant disciplinary action against Dr. Alex.

Fact #1: The two photographs appearing in the March issue of The Linking Ring can clearly be identified as my original illusions.

Fact #2: I did not grant permission to Dr. Alex to build or perform these illusions and, therefore, they are an “unauthorized use of another’s creation.”

Dr. Alex has displayed a clear disregard for the respectful and hard-working magicians/inventors in the magic community and has violated our Code of Ethics. This can only cause disillusionment and sincere disappointment to those who feel betrayed by a leader in magic who has undermined both the secrecy and ethics that have been (or should be) a hallmark of the I.B.M. and our profession.

This whole debacle has implications and ramifications that will affect the creativity, building, performing, selling, and legal aspects of the overall magical entertainment profession.

The members of the I.B.M. Ethics and Grievance Committees have been informed of this situation and have already begun their investigation of this matter. Given the clear violations of our Code of Ethics, these committees are obligated to issue some type of reprimand and sanction.

In the letter, Andre also draws attention (using Magician K Lal's felicitation as an example) to the fact that senior magicians of India have also been using "pirated" versions of famous illusions, like David Copperfield's Death Saw Illusion.

Sadly, Andre in closing the letter writes:

I am very grieved that this Dr. Alex situation had to take place in India. Of the 79 countries in which I have performed, India has always been my favorite country to visit. I have performed in India during five of my world tours. I love the people there and all of the magicians I have met in India have been extremely friendly and hospitable. So, it is with deep regret this unpleasant situation had to take place in that country.

While the entire episode is sad and unfortunate, I cannot help but wonder, is this all linked to the innate urge in most of us (especially us, Indian magicians) to gain a quick, fast, and sudden publicity?

We can safely say, that we have NEVER been prudent in making claims... whether they were about our shows, our props, or World Records (taking nothing away from Alex's exhausting feat... and his purported entry into the Guiness Book).

Reading the local papers here we hear of a world record holding magician in every second article we read... And sadly, most of us claim to hold a Guinness Book of World Record entry.

Sad because a visit to the relevant page on the Guinness website reveals that most of these entries DO NOT even exist! Errr... Do we mean we have a copy of the book at home?

Like I said, I can't help but feel that this is a case of biting more than one can chew... Here, it is about wanting to gain more publicity and fame, without understanding the pros and cons thereto.

Again, ain't most of the illusions performed by the top performers in the country "personal remakes" of illusions performed by the world's very famous magicians? This is a sad, but true fact.

Of course, we are only talking of the look and feel, and the similarity of the effects... not the mechanisms (secrets) on which they rely.

This is because most see videos of foreign performers, and when they like an effect, they "decipher" it to the best of their abilities and understanding... and build a version that resembles and almost duplicates what the original does. And we must admit, that at best they come only very near to the original in terms of the effect and workings.

Is this a violation of the copyrights and patents law as they are being implemented and enforced today? Or is there a technicality involved in this?

Which brings me to my next question... Questions I am asking more to myself than anybody else, but I would surely like to hear from some of my friends, and know your thoughts.

Now with India enforcing the Patents Law, how do things change for the Indian magician, and Indian Magic? For the better, or for worse?

And as I talk of all this, I really can't help but wonder if any remuneration (royalty?) was paid to the inventors of the classics of magic (which included some great effects from India, especially the Indian Basket trick), or do we today safely say that these "copies" were done "and improved upon" before patents and copyrights came into effect?

Before I end, (to minimise any confusions on my stand) let me reiterate my support to Andre Kole (who has been an influential friend, especially to my research), and that I continue to stand by the vision as set by the erstwhile World Alliance of Magicians.

Looking forward to your thoughts, answers, and flak.

Nakul

Of thinking before speaking...

Here is a news report of a recent publicity stunt by a magician in India.

What is surprising to say the least is that this magician "who revels in exposing the tricks of so-called godmen," attributes his x-ray eyes abilities to the day "when he was struck in the eye by a ball while playing cricket".

Why? Why do people have to make such comments... and confuse issues further: IF indeed they are 'fighting' superstition!
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320km On A Motorbike, Blindfolded And At 52

KOLKATA : February 28 2005

Age has not withered the spirit of this 52-year-old former Tata Steel employee, who set off on a gruelling 320-km journey blindfolded on a motorcycle from the metropolis to Jamshedpur today.

Subir Kumar Muzumdar, who calls himself "The Man With Extra Eyes", seems to have perfected the art of blindfold driving so much so, that he asks onlookers to throw sand and glass splinters as he keeps his eyes shut.

"Now, if I even try to open my eyes, then the sand, salt and glass will enter my eyes and damage them," says Muzumdar, also a magician who revels in exposing the tricks of so-called godmen.

On a mission to pay tribute to Tata Steel founder Jamshedji Tata, Muzumdar asked people, minutes before setting off, to throw sand, salt and glass splinters as he kept his eyes closed. Cotton padding was put in place over his eyes before he was blindfolded.

"This causes a lot of pain, and I already have a headache which will only get worse in the next few hours. But I think this is a small price to pay for realising my blindfold missions," says Muzumdar, who resides in Jamshedpur.

On how he negotiated speeding trucks on the highways, Muzumdar says after years of practice he could easily recognise the sound of vehicles ahead.

"But the problem is with the static ones. For this, I have a navigator who escorts me on a two wheeler," he said. It all started when Muzumdar was about 17 years old when he was struck in the eye by a ball while playing cricket.

"The injury was quite serious. The doctor put a big bandage around both eyes. But I was not one who would sit at home. Defying my parents I would go out to the park and play soccer with my friends with my eyes bandaged.

"This made me confident that I could do things blindfolded which others couldn't. My injury healed in a few days, but the passion to do things blindfolded remained," he said. In the course of time he could ride a motorcycle and drive a car blindfolded.

Muzumdar's joy knew no bounds when he rode from Jamshedpur to Delhi via Mumbai, blindfolded on a two-wheeler in 1984. "I completed the distance in 20 days. And more importantly, I started only three days after getting a licence to ride a two-wheeler," he says with a chuckle.

There has been no turning back since then as he went on fine tuning his art. On the current trip, sponsored by TATA Steel, Muzumdar said he would only ride through the day. After two night halts, he would reach the steel city on Thursday morning.

But how will he soothe his eyes after keeping them blindfolded for such a long time at a stretch? "I will dip my head in a bucketful of water. And then the navigator will wipe off the remaining sand particles and the glass splinters from my eyes," he adds before his motorcycle zooms ahead.

Reproduced from IndiaTimes Spirituality
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To me this is an issue of throwing an egg up in the air and trying to make it land on the forehead.

The result: You end up with egg on your face.

Nakul

Faith healing not permissible: Allahabad HC

Rediff.com
February 10, 2005

The Allahabad high court has ruled that no person or organisation can claim constitutional validity for "faith healing" citing the right to freedom of religion and right to protection of life.

Justice Sunil Ambawani, while making the observation, said that both the rights are distinct from each and other and do not overlap.

He also said that right to protection of life, which also entails the right to medical treatment, is regulated by a specific legislation and hence nobody can claim the right to cure people through the power of faith as a fundamental right.

The order was on a complaint filed by one Santosh Saxena, a resident of the city, who had alleged that one Ajay Pratap Singh, who had set up an organisation called the Lal Mahendra Shiv Shakti Seva Samiti, was offering faith healing for a fee of Rs 30.

The court restrained Singh and the organisation from holding faith healing congregations.

----------

Yippee! A landmark judgement that.

The Coimbatore court had ruled a smilar judgement in the recent past, which prevents any Faith Healing sessions to be held in the public space in Coimbatore.

How I wish the Supreme Court of India passed such a judgement (suo moto?) ... coz expecting the legislators to pass such an ordinance is too much to ask.

I salute you, High Court of Allahabad!

I am still looking forward to the judgement by the Karnataka High Court on the Benny Hinn issue. Benny Hinn is long gone... But at least we can look forward to prevent further fooling of the gullibles.

Nakul

PS: I trust the "faith healer" being a Hindu has nothing to do with it... After all, equality before law is a fundamental right under the Indian constitution too...

Of Benny Hinn, and Faith Healers...

Even as I write this, Bangalore is coming to terms with the various facets that are linked to Benny Hinn's "Pray for India" rally being held for three days (starting today) at the Jakkur Airfield Grounds here.

There is enough and more tension brewing up in all parts of the City, what with many a Hindu religious and social outfits taking up opposition of this event. Again, today being Id for the Muslim brethren, has only added to the tension.

Legally speaking, the event per se is not illegal, as religious missionaries have the freedom to propagate their religion, as far as it does NOT infringe on the Indian citizens' Fundamental Rights related to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25 to 28).

Again, the Indian citizens under Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) and Article 28 (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain education institutions), have a right to attend, or not attend, or even choose their faith.

So while many of our social, political, and religious leaders are quick to point out that any disturbance caused to the event would be against the law of the secular land of India, I am (for once) NOT in agreement with this.

The reason: This tour is NOT really called "Pray for India" as the hoardings scream out. In fact, on his television programs (on GOD, and other channels), this is called "The India Crusade," and he blatantly says that the idea is to convert as many as possible (in his words the people of India!) to the "only way to God".

While respecting his religious sentiments (everybody has a right to their own faith!), I have to say that the proponents, custodians, and followers of Hindu, and other religions, ALSO have every right to OPPOSE the Benny Hinn event, simply because during a recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Benny Hinn stated that he had converted mostly Hindus there, who made up 30 percent of the population, during his "crusade".

So there is indeed every cause for concern on their part, and in that way their actions are in fact in "Public Good"; Especially in the interest of the religious harmony that has hitherto existed here.

In the same vein, I also admire and express my support to all those journalists who were part of the Press Meet at the Bangalore Press Club on January 15, 2005, where they opposed the distribution of printed literature that was blatant insulting Hindu and other 'pagan' religions, to say the least.

Kudos to you, journalists of Bangalore.

Also, three cheers to the learned Judge of the Bangalore High Court, Shri Belvadi Ramaswamy, who has ordered that the event be monitored through close-circuit cameras, and that 15 (medically examined) "handicapped people" be monitored for miracles by a team of 5 doctors.

I salute the High Court of Karnataka!

In fact, I go on record to state that I SUPPORT ALL those that are opposing the Benny Hinn's show here and anywhere else in the world.

The reasons are NOT really linked to religion, NOR are they linked to conversion. They are entirely linked to various facts that point to Benny Hinn being a con artist, and NOTHING MORE than an unscrupulous charlatan, who is feeding on the emotions of the bereaved and needy, in the name of God and religion, all for his own financial benefits.

Most of his prophesies have been wrong, while others are fast running out of the time they require to be right.

Again, Justin Peters (a staff evangelist at the First Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi) who analyzed Benny Hinn's Ministry and it's methods for his master's thesis in theology, concludes that, "Benny Hinn is a false prophet in every sense of the word. He is a pathological liar seemingly incapable of telling the truth even about major events in his own life history."

In fact, Benny Hinn the Faith Healer is, in the name of God and Religion, giving false hope, (mis)using the secrets of conjuring and hypnotism, and duping millions of their hard-earned pennies, and stacking away zillions.

To me the best words to expose Hinn are those by James Randi (magician, and author of the book The Faith Healers), as quoted in the article Controversial evangelist to visit Waco:

James Randi, a professional magician/escape artist who is perhaps best known these days as a "demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims," recalled in a recent telephone interview how he disguised himself to attend a Benny Hinn faith healing service on behalf of the BBC in Toronto. With a hidden camera, he said, he captured on film some of the assisting pastors coaching people when to fall down, as well as scenes of paramedics coming to the aid of those supposedly "cured" who collapsed when their adrenaline rush subsided after their on-stage "cure."

"We have followed up on 104 of his so-called cures, and not a one of those people was healed. There is no medical evidence to support his claims," Randi said.

It doesn't matter how many times the secular media or skeptical investigators expose Hinn's actions, he added. "There are people who need for it to be true. They are predicating everything on their belief that faith healing works. For some people, it's the only thing they've got going."

Thus, Hinn should be stopped. In every possible way.

Nakul

Derren Brown as a Messiah!

Derren to play Messiah

By SIMON ROTHSTEIN

TELLY trickster Derren Brown is trying to convince American religious leaders that he is the Messiah.

The controversial illusionist is putting his powers to the test for a new series to be broadcast on Channel 4 next year.

In the show, called Messiah, Derren looks at a variety of religious and spiritual beliefs. [more ...]

Reproduced from the Sun Magazine Online - Bizzarre Online.

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Interesting that!

I for one would be more than keen to know how people react to this act by Derren Brown.

Is this going to expose the delusions of these new age movements, or is it only going to contribute to Derren's publicity needs...? This is a question that I would love answered.

Again, as Derren is a mentalist and psychic entertainer, his stating that "I allow them to decide how much they are going to endorse it and embrace it. If at any point they ask me if this is some sort of trick, I will confess and tell them," to me gathers more importance.

He will admit that what he does is a "trick" and not so much aspects of non-verbal communication, et al? Does that not undermine the effect as presented in mentalism?

Again, is this ONLY because what he would be demonstrating are effects used by the new age gurus and other "psychics" and not so much by mentalists and psychic entertainers... especially Derren Brown himself?

Nakul

Of gaining publicity... and social responsibility

Magician predicted terrible earthquake

December 29, 2004 11:58

NORWICH magician Geraldini claimed last night he had predicted a national disaster — days before the tsunami terror hit south-east Asia, killing tens of thousands of people.

More than one week ago he said he could forecast the headlines on the front page of the Evening News on Tuesday December 28.

He wrote down his predictions — he was the only one to see them — and put them in a box on Graham Barnard's breakfast show on Radio Norfolk.

The box was then padlocked and kept by the presenter until last night, when it was taken along to the opening night of A Cavalcade of Mystery, Magic and Illusion at St Peter's Theatre, Park Lane, Norwich.

Before the start of the show Geraldini — real name Gerald Morter — invited Graham Barnard and Derek James of the Evening News on to the stage.

He then asked Graham to open the box. Inside was another box containing a small brown envelope.

The magician handed over the envelope, saying it was the one he put in the box on Monday, December 20, to the radio presenter who then read out what was written on it.

It said: "I, Geraldini, predict that the front page of the Evening News dated Tuesday, December 28 December, 2004 will reveal the worst under-sea earthquake to hit Thailand and Asia. This quake will cause great damage and loss of life."

The front page of the Evening News told the tragic story of how a Norfolk mother-of-four was swept to her death as the immense wave hit her in Thailand.

When asked how he had done it he said: "I can't say. I am sorry it is such a sad and tragic story."

From Evening News 24, UK

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Magicians have to owe moral responsibility for actions that they carry out. A prediction of this nature defeats the very purpose of staging a "prediction act".

The one question that will find a place in every reader's mind is: Why divulge a prediction of such a disaster, AFTER the event has taken place?

In simple words, because it is a magic effect, and NOT a psychical (sic) prediction.

This kind of a prediction fails logic, and thus loses ALL magical properties. Worse, it can be seem as being sick, and sadistic.

A similar unfortunate incident happened to a friend of mine here in India, a couple of years back. He was doing a prediction for the local newspapers. And bang! One of the worst train accidents occurred... And he ended up "predicting" the same.

Sadly, a good performer had to avoid the public eye for quite a long while, as there were many a people who questioned his social responsibility...

Does that mean magicians have to avoid utilizing this otherwise excellent publicity stunt? For like in the case of these magicians, you NEVER know when disaster is going to strike... (unless you are a 'real' psychic!) and thus strike a blow to one's entertainment career too.

IMHO, No. We can still go ahead and use this excellent publicity gimmick. Only that in the event of such calamities, we HAVE TO AVOID including that as the prediction. "Predict" some other headline... not the bad one. Stick with some good news....

At least that way you have an "out" that this was the only one you saw... And did not "foresee" the other (calamity). That way, at least you will NOT have lynch mobs looking for you...

Just a thought. And I may be wrong.

Nakul