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Declare magic a national art, says old master Shankar

SHIMLA: Famous magic artist Shankar has emphasised the need to save the dying art of magic.

Tracing its genesis to ancient India and demanding that it be declared a national art form, he told journalists here on Friday that there are just 100 magicians left today in this country with a population of over one billion. Shankar was here to present a show.

Asked about the reasons behind this fading art, he said it was not because senior artists did not pass it on to the next generation, but because of the indifference of governments which did not patronise or encourage it.

Shankar also demanded five acres of land in Himachal Pradesh to set up an Academy of Magic and a one-year diploma course in this art. The magic artist, who has done over 28,000 shows so far in the country and abroad, most of them for charity, is strictly against misuse of magic by some so-called spiritual babas and “godmen”. He said such people should be punished for exploiting the poor and innocent believers. He called it a mixture of tricks and hypnotism.

He demanded that this ancient art be patronised like yoga.

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