LAHORE: “Magic won’t die,” says John Zubrzycki – author of Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic – as he believes that seeing a skilled magician doing even the simplest of tricks instils a sense of wonder and makes us question what is real. “Inquisition is something that will always resonate deeply within us even in this digitized and disenchanted world,” he said.

The book vividly explains the magic traditions of not only India but the entire sub-continent. The author has discussed magic as an entertainment rather than black magic or occult. “Nor do I deliberately set out reveal any of the secrets of magic or the magician’s craft,” he said setting the tone of his talk.

Mr Zubrzycki, a journalist by profession, who had covered politics in Pakistan while being foreign correspondent in Delhi, was speaking at a session moderated by Osama Siddique at Lahore Literary Festival at Alhamra Arts Centre on Saturday.

The author said he had looked at conjuring traditions of the Indian sub-continent influencing Western magic in public culture as well as change of traditions where Indian magic was influenced by the Western magic. He also explained India’s magic traditions and its influence on culture, religion and society. “To tell the story of Indian magic is to hold a mirror to India’s religious traditions, its society and culture,” he said.

Referring the magicians and street entertainers as the performers of highest order, Mr Zubrzycki said, magic was an art form that required a lot of skills and practice to perform tricks that were enchanting people for thousands of years.

Explaining Mughal Emperor Jehangir’s obsession with India’s wonderworkers interfered with the day-to-day running of his court, he said a group of complainants, wishing to report abuses of power by the Governor of Bengal, had to dress up as magicians to get his attention.

Concluding that magic is integral part of the culture of sub-continent, Mr Zubrzycki said, “It is an area of research that is neglected” and added that this book explains that why it was important to understand and document this magic traditions because they do play important role.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2019