‘Alohomora!’ echoed Harry, and the door to a world of fantasy, imagination, witches and wizards sprang open. Seven years back, author J K Rowling sent ripples of magic through her first Harry Potter book. The world was hooked. The muggles awaited every edition with baited breath, to live and re-live the fantastical and magical world of the lightning-scarred wizard Harry Potter.
As far as I’m concerned though, the magic didn’t really cast a spell on me seven years back. I had far better things to do than read about an eleven-year-old kid with magical powers, or so I thought. Only recently, after the seventh and the last book was out, did my curiosity get the better of me. I borrowed the first book from a friend, and lo! and behold, I was plunged into the Dursley’s home at Number Four-Privet drive, willingly shoved into the Hogwarts Express, and charmed through the castle of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft…I played Quidditch, I created patronuses against the deathly dementors, I fought the Boggarts and the trolls, and I set out on the long search for the Dark Lord’s horcruxes, fighting till the very end... I read the seven books in rapt succession, and by the end of the week, I was in love with all things magic!
It was roundabout this time, that my colleague flashed the idea of this story to me. The movies, the merchandise, the characters, the books – we’ve publicised and over-publicised all of that, but what about the very core of the book: What about the phenomena of magic? Potter symbolises the M word like no other. We wonder then if he, along with his creator Rowling, has managed to glamourise, among other things, Indian sorcery?
Street magic, as it is oft termed, has been a solid part of Indian culture and history. It immediately conjures in our mind the picture of our magicians, dressed in colourful garb and long flowing robes, showing us the might of the slight of hand. A deck of cards, rabbits, birds, hats, feathers, coins, and, in the case of P C Sorcar, even the Taj Mahal, dart across our mind. As I pen these lines, I wonder if Harry Potter has renewed interest in magic; and if Harry Potter has suddenly made one look at magic with the eye of greater respect.
My colleague Biswadip Mitra established a ‘Bong connection’ with super magician P C Sorcar Junior, and enjoyed his half hour telephonic chat with the man who modernised magic in India. Speaking from Nellore, in-between his prolonged magic-tour of Andhra Pradesh, Sorcar seemed invigorated while talking about magic. “Everything is magic. We are all magicians,” he said in his distinct style of speaking. “An artist becomes a magician when he draws a rose, because the flower looks so real that you could almost smell it, touch it, feel it. Similarly, poets and writers are magicians of words. Magic is a high-level art form. Through magic, we can try to reach the realm of infinity. But it is not possible. Even my father could not reach there…Magic is part of fantasy. Anything we cannot decipher, becomes magic.”
As Mitra steered the conversation to the lingering topic on our mind, Sorcar took a firm stand. “Harry Potter is a copied concept. You should first think about our ancient characters like Kach and Devjani. You should think about Shukracharya than what Miss Rowling has been brainwashing people with.” He didn’t need to be prodded on, but as Hogwarts School was mentioned, he continued, “This is a problem with us. We go by what the British have told us. The history we learn about our nation and the world was written by the British. They wrote it to serve their purpose…”
We wonder if ‘Miss Rowling’ would be offended! The conversation takes a detour to the future of Indian magic. It is a known fact that Sorcar is planning on opening a Magic University in the suburbs of Kolkata. He shares his vision, “It is my initiative to pass on the skills of Indrajaal Vidya that I have achieved to the next generation of magicians.” Through his Magic University project, he wants to document the skills of Indian who go unrecognised. “That’s my little effort to tell the world about those who sincerely carry forward the art,” he says humbly.
Sorcar’s views, though hard-hitting for the Potter maniacs, are, I have to admit, ground reality, as they were reflected in my talk with Pune’s well-known magician Vijay Raghuveer and his son Jitendra Ranghuveer. The father-son duo, though not as honestly harsh about Potter as Sorcar, admits that the book has in no apparent way helped their field. “The Harry Potter series have made no difference to our shows. The basic audience of our shows is in the age group of 8 and 15 years. I doubt whether most have even read the book,” says Vijay Raghuveer. He then softly adds, “Magic as a career is a difficult road, at least here in India. The investment is almost out of bounds for most, and returns are not guaranteed. Harry Potter is a major craze in UK and USA. There, the magicians have amazing facilities. They have special stages created with trapdoors and other necessities. Here, it’s not practical to spend so much money on these stages. Maybe a P C Sorcar can do it, but not everyone.”
Son Jitendra chips in, “We run the Magician Raghuveer Institute and American Academy of Magic here. The response has been good, and people are interested to learn magic, but I doubt if that can be credited to the book. It’s not that the book was released and we were flooded with calls! Kids know that the magic in the book and the magic of stage shows is very, very different.” A valid point there. Magic stage shows are, after all, meant for entertainment. There aren’t broomstick wars; there aren’t whispers of the evils of He-who-must-not-be-named; there aren’t magical beasts; there aren’t animagi; there aren’t wizards and witches…there are just muggles (non-magic people), and the fascinating tricks they’ve mastered. Vijay Raghuveer continues, “Our shows are meant to entertain gatherings and give people something different to look forward to. Now, people don’t have the inclination or the time to sit for three hours of magic. My son does one-hour shows, and that format has become popular now.” Jitendra sighs, “We don’t need a Harry Potter to increase the respect of our field or interest of people to learnt the art. We just need the media to support us.” Maybe this article will do the trick, we wink!
Literally speaking
Randhir Khare, writer
Very often, it happens that because a whole lot of other people are going ga-ga over something, it becomes the in thing to own a particular book. How many have actually read the Potter books that they’ve bought? Also, quality reading is hardly prevalent. Today is the age of fast and abridged reading, so I doubt if what people have read has actually registered.
We’ve moved on to a much more urban, studied and artificial way of life. We’ve lost touch with the early impulses of a higher self. It’s highly unlikely that a book with magical quality will bring back that connection and respect.
Also, I feel many have latched on to the merchandising, the language, the look of characters – basically the peripherals of Harry Potter. The original product (magic) has been left behind. I doubt the series will empower and renew interest in Indian magic.
Deepak Dalal, writer
Oh, not at all! The book can’t do anything for our real magic because there’s simply no relationship between the two. The magic written in Harry Potter has got no relation with our Indian street magic. Wands and brooms aren’t the essence of our magic.
Our wizards and witches
Mention the ‘H’ of Harry Potter, and a true fan will twinkle his/her eyes and sigh. Our real world immediately dissolves and we’re transported to the Hogwarts Castle. “Oh! How I wish I could find a Port Key that could transfer me to Harry’s world. What I wouldn’t give for the seven years of studies at Hogwarts,” squeals 17-year-old Namrata Singh. Her younger sister Arwa chimes, “We should have an Indian Academy of Wizardry and Witchcraft, ditto on the lines of Hogwarts. I’d love to be part of Gryffindor house and learn Herbology! I particularly like the concept of plants with magical properties.”
22-year-old Ashwin Reddy, who is doing his Masters in English, from the Pune University, speaks of his fantasy. “It would be super to have an academy like Hogwarts. India has enough mountainous locations. This one could probably be somewhere in the Himalayas where non-gifted people couldn’t reach!” And, what if he were one of the non-gifted…? Even before we could complete our sentence, he breaks in, “No way. I’m definitely wizardish material! Defence Against the Dark Arts is a cool subject. I could probably go on to be an Auror and then Minister of Magic…” We leave him to his dreams, and look around for some other Harry fans. Finding one is the easiest thing I’ve ever done, I suppose! Nishitha Kulkarni, who is a ‘just-out-of-school-and-into-college’ girl, remarks, in a very Hermioneish manner, “I’ve read Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and it’s very interesting. I’d want to teach about these magical creatures in a magic academy.”
If we were to trace the hidden desires of Harry Potter fans, we’d probably fill up pages for the whole year, but just to show you the variety in their thinking, here’s another maniac! “I’d want a magic academy with Dumbledore as the headmaster. He’s my favourite in the book. With him around, there wouldn’t be any need for us to worry about dementors, Lord Voldermorts and other dark stuff. The dark stuff should be there, of course, because there’s no fun with everything being goody-goody!” laughs Nadeem Kazi, a 25-year-old working at a city BPO.
I can’t help adding my viewpoint having been inducted into the Potter circle – I can’t dream of any other academy than Hogwarts, so I’d love to be 11 again, scramble into the Hogwarts Express at platform nine and three quarters, meet Hagrid at the end of the journey as he screams ‘First years, come ’ere’, ride the boat to the looming Hogwarts castle, beam at the Sorting Hat, dart my eyes at Harry Potter, and join him at his table…I want just that, nothing more, nothing less.
As far as I’m concerned though, the magic didn’t really cast a spell on me seven years back. I had far better things to do than read about an eleven-year-old kid with magical powers, or so I thought. Only recently, after the seventh and the last book was out, did my curiosity get the better of me. I borrowed the first book from a friend, and lo! and behold, I was plunged into the Dursley’s home at Number Four-Privet drive, willingly shoved into the Hogwarts Express, and charmed through the castle of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft…I played Quidditch, I created patronuses against the deathly dementors, I fought the Boggarts and the trolls, and I set out on the long search for the Dark Lord’s horcruxes, fighting till the very end... I read the seven books in rapt succession, and by the end of the week, I was in love with all things magic!
It was roundabout this time, that my colleague flashed the idea of this story to me. The movies, the merchandise, the characters, the books – we’ve publicised and over-publicised all of that, but what about the very core of the book: What about the phenomena of magic? Potter symbolises the M word like no other. We wonder then if he, along with his creator Rowling, has managed to glamourise, among other things, Indian sorcery?
Street magic, as it is oft termed, has been a solid part of Indian culture and history. It immediately conjures in our mind the picture of our magicians, dressed in colourful garb and long flowing robes, showing us the might of the slight of hand. A deck of cards, rabbits, birds, hats, feathers, coins, and, in the case of P C Sorcar, even the Taj Mahal, dart across our mind. As I pen these lines, I wonder if Harry Potter has renewed interest in magic; and if Harry Potter has suddenly made one look at magic with the eye of greater respect.
My colleague Biswadip Mitra established a ‘Bong connection’ with super magician P C Sorcar Junior, and enjoyed his half hour telephonic chat with the man who modernised magic in India. Speaking from Nellore, in-between his prolonged magic-tour of Andhra Pradesh, Sorcar seemed invigorated while talking about magic. “Everything is magic. We are all magicians,” he said in his distinct style of speaking. “An artist becomes a magician when he draws a rose, because the flower looks so real that you could almost smell it, touch it, feel it. Similarly, poets and writers are magicians of words. Magic is a high-level art form. Through magic, we can try to reach the realm of infinity. But it is not possible. Even my father could not reach there…Magic is part of fantasy. Anything we cannot decipher, becomes magic.”
As Mitra steered the conversation to the lingering topic on our mind, Sorcar took a firm stand. “Harry Potter is a copied concept. You should first think about our ancient characters like Kach and Devjani. You should think about Shukracharya than what Miss Rowling has been brainwashing people with.” He didn’t need to be prodded on, but as Hogwarts School was mentioned, he continued, “This is a problem with us. We go by what the British have told us. The history we learn about our nation and the world was written by the British. They wrote it to serve their purpose…”
We wonder if ‘Miss Rowling’ would be offended! The conversation takes a detour to the future of Indian magic. It is a known fact that Sorcar is planning on opening a Magic University in the suburbs of Kolkata. He shares his vision, “It is my initiative to pass on the skills of Indrajaal Vidya that I have achieved to the next generation of magicians.” Through his Magic University project, he wants to document the skills of Indian who go unrecognised. “That’s my little effort to tell the world about those who sincerely carry forward the art,” he says humbly.
Sorcar’s views, though hard-hitting for the Potter maniacs, are, I have to admit, ground reality, as they were reflected in my talk with Pune’s well-known magician Vijay Raghuveer and his son Jitendra Ranghuveer. The father-son duo, though not as honestly harsh about Potter as Sorcar, admits that the book has in no apparent way helped their field. “The Harry Potter series have made no difference to our shows. The basic audience of our shows is in the age group of 8 and 15 years. I doubt whether most have even read the book,” says Vijay Raghuveer. He then softly adds, “Magic as a career is a difficult road, at least here in India. The investment is almost out of bounds for most, and returns are not guaranteed. Harry Potter is a major craze in UK and USA. There, the magicians have amazing facilities. They have special stages created with trapdoors and other necessities. Here, it’s not practical to spend so much money on these stages. Maybe a P C Sorcar can do it, but not everyone.”
Son Jitendra chips in, “We run the Magician Raghuveer Institute and American Academy of Magic here. The response has been good, and people are interested to learn magic, but I doubt if that can be credited to the book. It’s not that the book was released and we were flooded with calls! Kids know that the magic in the book and the magic of stage shows is very, very different.” A valid point there. Magic stage shows are, after all, meant for entertainment. There aren’t broomstick wars; there aren’t whispers of the evils of He-who-must-not-be-named; there aren’t magical beasts; there aren’t animagi; there aren’t wizards and witches…there are just muggles (non-magic people), and the fascinating tricks they’ve mastered. Vijay Raghuveer continues, “Our shows are meant to entertain gatherings and give people something different to look forward to. Now, people don’t have the inclination or the time to sit for three hours of magic. My son does one-hour shows, and that format has become popular now.” Jitendra sighs, “We don’t need a Harry Potter to increase the respect of our field or interest of people to learnt the art. We just need the media to support us.” Maybe this article will do the trick, we wink!
Literally speaking
Randhir Khare, writer
Very often, it happens that because a whole lot of other people are going ga-ga over something, it becomes the in thing to own a particular book. How many have actually read the Potter books that they’ve bought? Also, quality reading is hardly prevalent. Today is the age of fast and abridged reading, so I doubt if what people have read has actually registered.
We’ve moved on to a much more urban, studied and artificial way of life. We’ve lost touch with the early impulses of a higher self. It’s highly unlikely that a book with magical quality will bring back that connection and respect.
Also, I feel many have latched on to the merchandising, the language, the look of characters – basically the peripherals of Harry Potter. The original product (magic) has been left behind. I doubt the series will empower and renew interest in Indian magic.
Deepak Dalal, writer
Oh, not at all! The book can’t do anything for our real magic because there’s simply no relationship between the two. The magic written in Harry Potter has got no relation with our Indian street magic. Wands and brooms aren’t the essence of our magic.
Our wizards and witches
Mention the ‘H’ of Harry Potter, and a true fan will twinkle his/her eyes and sigh. Our real world immediately dissolves and we’re transported to the Hogwarts Castle. “Oh! How I wish I could find a Port Key that could transfer me to Harry’s world. What I wouldn’t give for the seven years of studies at Hogwarts,” squeals 17-year-old Namrata Singh. Her younger sister Arwa chimes, “We should have an Indian Academy of Wizardry and Witchcraft, ditto on the lines of Hogwarts. I’d love to be part of Gryffindor house and learn Herbology! I particularly like the concept of plants with magical properties.”
22-year-old Ashwin Reddy, who is doing his Masters in English, from the Pune University, speaks of his fantasy. “It would be super to have an academy like Hogwarts. India has enough mountainous locations. This one could probably be somewhere in the Himalayas where non-gifted people couldn’t reach!” And, what if he were one of the non-gifted…? Even before we could complete our sentence, he breaks in, “No way. I’m definitely wizardish material! Defence Against the Dark Arts is a cool subject. I could probably go on to be an Auror and then Minister of Magic…” We leave him to his dreams, and look around for some other Harry fans. Finding one is the easiest thing I’ve ever done, I suppose! Nishitha Kulkarni, who is a ‘just-out-of-school-and-into-college’ girl, remarks, in a very Hermioneish manner, “I’ve read Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and it’s very interesting. I’d want to teach about these magical creatures in a magic academy.”
If we were to trace the hidden desires of Harry Potter fans, we’d probably fill up pages for the whole year, but just to show you the variety in their thinking, here’s another maniac! “I’d want a magic academy with Dumbledore as the headmaster. He’s my favourite in the book. With him around, there wouldn’t be any need for us to worry about dementors, Lord Voldermorts and other dark stuff. The dark stuff should be there, of course, because there’s no fun with everything being goody-goody!” laughs Nadeem Kazi, a 25-year-old working at a city BPO.
I can’t help adding my viewpoint having been inducted into the Potter circle – I can’t dream of any other academy than Hogwarts, so I’d love to be 11 again, scramble into the Hogwarts Express at platform nine and three quarters, meet Hagrid at the end of the journey as he screams ‘First years, come ’ere’, ride the boat to the looming Hogwarts castle, beam at the Sorting Hat, dart my eyes at Harry Potter, and join him at his table…I want just that, nothing more, nothing less.
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