Mission India voyage begins

Flag of inspiration: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan (third, right) entrusts the National Flag to Gopinath Muthukad, leader of the Mission India national voyage with free magic shows against terrorism and violence. Also seen are (from left), Director, Technical & HRD, V. Radhakrishnan; Regional Head of the Federal Bank, V.R. Madhavakumar; General Manager of the Indian Oil Corporation, P.M. Nazirudeen; Patron of the Magic Academy, O.N.V. Kurup; Cultural Minister, M.A.Baby; M.L.A., N. Sakthan and Vice Chairman of the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board, P. Sreeramakrishnan.

Thiruvananthapuram: Marking the formal inauguration of the Mission India voyage with free magic shows against terrorism and violence, Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan entrusted the National Flag to the leader of the endeavour, Gopinath Muthukad at a function held here today (02/10/10). Janpeeth laureate poet and Patron of the Magic Academy, O.N.V. Kurup presided over the function. Cultural minister, M.A. Baby spoke on the occasion. The function was organised by the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board (KSYWB). “Gopinath Muthukad is a genius who has introduced magic as an effective tool for communication, one thing that was hitherto not so known to the world”, the CM said.

Multi-culture magic: Scenes from the Mission India magic show presented by magician Gopinath Muthukad and team.

Mr. Muthukad is leading a team of 25 artistes including 6 girls. The Academy is duly supported by the Indian Army, LIC, Indian Oil Corporation, Cochin Shipyard (CSL), Federal Bank and the HLL Lifecare. Through cantonments, the Army will provide food and accommodation for the voyage team whereas the IOC will fuel the three vehicles.

During Surise on the Gandhi Jayanti day, Mr. Muthukad and team offered a magical tribute at Gandhi Smriti following which the Kanyakumari district collector, Rajendra Ratnoo flagged off the voyage. Earlier, M.L.A., N. Sakthan released the voyage souvenir by handing over a copy to the Vice Chairman of the KSYW, P. Sreeramakrishnan. Mr. Muthukad welcomed dignitaries whereas Honorary director of the Academy, Chandrasenan Mithirmala delivered vote of thanks. Director, Technical and HRD of the CSL, V. Radhakrishnan; General Manager of the IOC, P.M. Nazirudeen; Regional Head of the Federal Bank, V.R. Madhavakumar and Sr. Divisional Manager of the LIC, Saji Paul spoke. Following the inaugural function, Mr. Muthukad staged 45-minute-long Mission India magic show. The CM watched it till the end and wished "all success for the magical feat" before he left.

Flag off: District Collector of Kanyakumari, Rajendra Ratnoo flags off the Mission India voyage at Kanyakumari a short while after sunrise on the Gandhi Jayanti Day.

Before the Kerala leg of the voyage concludes in Kasaragode on 16th, the Mission India magic shows will be demonstrated in district headquarters with the active participation of around 5000 youth clubs affiliated to the KSYWB. After the Kerala part, the entourage will travel by three vehicles to the heart of India.

The 60-day-long voyage will culminate in Chennai on 30th of November with a show organised by the Army.

A curtain raiser of the Mission India was fittingly staged on the terrace of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on 24th of September with the memorial of 26/11 making a perfect backdrop for the magic stage. Then the Governor of Maharashtra, K. Sankaranarayanan formally declared the magical feat.

The Mission India is going to be Mr. Muthukad’s fourth national endeavour of using magic as a medium for driving in messages. Vismay Swaraj Yatra of national integration messages in 2002, Gandhi Mantra disseminating Gandhian philosophies in 2005 and the Vismay Swaraj Yatra reliving glorious chapters of the freedom movement in 2007 are his glaring previous feats. In Kerala, Mr. Muthukad has performed on pertinent social themes including literacy, health, hygiene, environment and dismantling of superstitions.

Meaningful ‘Mission India’ gets litterateurs’ praise

Words worth: Poet, Sugathakumari gives her suggestions to magician Gopinath Muthukad (second right) after the latter's final trial staging of the Mission India magic show in Thiruvananthapuram. Poet and Patron of the Magic Academy, O.N.V. Kurup and Dr. George Onakoor are also seen.

Thiruvannathapuram: Final round of rehearsals for the Mission India magic show conceived by magician Gopinath Muthukad to spread messages of peace and harmony to defeat terrorism and violence was staged today (01/10/10) in front of an august gathering comprising of literary luminaries.

Patron of the Magic Academy ONV Kurup, Sugathakumari, Perumbadavam Sreedharan, V. Madhusudanan Nair, Puthussery Ramachandran, Dr. George Onakoor, Dr. Aranmula Hariharaputhran, cine director, Sathyan Anthikkad; Soorya Krishnamoorthy and Prof. V.N. Murali were there to witness the final trial staging of the show. The show began with imparting the insight that the value of our culture was its ready receptiveness to cultures around.

Spectators were wonderstruck to see an ancient hermit meditating in the midair and saint Thoma Sleeha alighting to life from a life size portrait. When a curtain carrying the holy messages raised and lowered, appeared there was a Mughal emperor. Magical scenes also taught that division among people was a phenomenon imported by imperialist ships who invaded our shores long ago. Also brought back are the poignant tales of freedom struggle. The show concludes giving an inspiring knowledge that religious conflicts do not match to the secular composure of a country like ours. Instead, religions should form a vibrant spectrum of adornment to our country like rainbow on the sky.

Outside Kerala, the show will be presented in the regional languages of various States. Mr. Muthukad and team had a photo session with dignitaries. With a little excess emotion, Mr. O.N.V. Kurup blessed Mr. Muthukad to have a victorious voyage. “This is definitely a wonderful experimentation. Gopi will come out victorius” said Ms. Sugathakumari. Finally the litterateurs sat together and offered a handful of personal advices to the magician, before they dispersed.

Tomorrow (02/10/10) a free demonstration of the Mission India magic will be held for public at 11am at the Tagore Theatre. On the occasion, the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board (KSYWB) will convene a function at which, Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan will entrust the National Flag to Mr. Muthukad. The function will be presided over by O.N.V. Kurup. Cultural Minister M.A. Baby will deliver keynote address. KSYWB will offer venues for the Kerala leg of the voyage until it concludes in Kasaragode on 15th. Around 5000 youth clubs affiliated with the KSYWB will participate in the State leg of Mission India.

One team, one dream: Mission India voyage team on a photo session with eminent writers after the final rehearsals of their specially crafted magic show.

For conducting the 60-day voyage, the Magic Academy is supported by Indian Army, LIC of India, Indian Oil Corporation, Federal Bank, Cochin Shipyard Ltd., HLL Lifecare Ltd. The voyage will culminate in Chennai on 30th of November. The Army will provide food and accommodation at cantonments whereas the fuel for the three vehicles will be provided by the Indian Oil Corporation.

At the Sunset on the Gandhi Jayanti day, Kanyakumari district administration will organise Mr. Muthukad’s magical tributes at the Gandhi Smriti. # # #

'Shade of love' starts spreading

For growing magical trees: Minister for Forest, Binoy Viswam (fourth right) holds the young plant produced on the magic stages of Gopinath Muthukad (fourth, left) at S.M.V. Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram, today. Opposition Leader of Kerala, Oommen Chandy (third left), Minister for Youth Welfare, V. Surendran Pillai; poet, Sugathakumari and Conservator of Forests, Mohammed Noushad are also seen. Th occasion was the state-level inauguration of the 'Shade of love' awareness programme jointly undertaken by the Magic Academy and the Department of Forests and Wildlife for instilling love for trees among school children. The event will be held through schools, one in each district, as part of the Kerala leg of the Mission India endeavour of Mr. Muthukad.


Plant for the planet: Sarath (sitting left), Hidayathulla and Tony, students of the S.M.V. Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram plant a tree produced from thin air by magician Gopinath Muthukad on the yards of their school. Protective nets for growing the tree is provided by the Forests Department. Like this, awareness programme led by Mr. Muthukad will be held all along the districts, but in one school each. In this photograph the Minister of Youth Welfare, V. Surendran Pillai (left); Opposition Leader, Oommen Chandy; Minister for Forest, Binoy Viswam; Poet, Sugathakumari and Mr. Muthukad are also seen.

Kerala University recognition for Magic Academy’s courses

University recognition for a magic teaching course is first time in the world.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala University (KU) has recognised the courses in the art and science of magic offered by the Magic Academy led by ace illusionist Gopinath Muthukad. Kerala University’s Centre for Adult Continuing Education Extension (CACEE) will conduct examinations and issue certificates for the Certificate and Diploma courses of the Academy. A recognition of this sort for courses in the art of magic is for the first time in the world. Today morning in the presence of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. A. Jayakrishnan, a memorandum of understanding in this regards was signed between the Executive Director of the Academy, Gopinath Muthukad and Registrar of the university, K.A. Hashim. Director of the CACEE, Dr. Supriya, Honorary Director of the Academy, R. Raja Moorthy and General Manager of the Academy, K.P. Sivakumar were present.

Milestone: Kerala University Vice Chancellor, Dr. A.Jayakrishnan (second right) hands over the MoU recognising the Magic Academy’s certificate and diploma courses to the Academy’s Executive Director, Gopinath Muthukad. Registrar of the university, K.A. Hashim; Director of the Centre for Adult Continuing Education Extension, Dr. Supriya; Academy’s Honorary Director, R. Raja Moorthy, General Manager, K.P. Sivakumar and Manager (Coordination), Deepak M. are also seen.

In the initial stage a 100 hour certificate course and a diploma course having 200 learning hours will be conducted. The Academy will invite application forms and conduct the classes. In turn, the CACEE will conduct examinations. The 3-month-long Certificate course in Magical Art and Science will comprise of the history of magic, science of magic, showmanship, Close-up magic and Conjuring magic. The Diploma course in the art and science of magic, a 6-month-long one will have in its syllabus, illusion magic, too. Those who have passed SSLC or equivalent examination are eligible for an admission to the certificate course. Only those who pass the certificate course or those who have started performing magic on stage can join for the diploma course.

The 14-year-old Academy, popular as the Asia's first one of its kind, was established by Mr. Muthukad as per the foresighted guidances obtained from the late Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, who was a bureaucrat turned novelist. Since then the Academy has been offering a plethora of service to the magicians. This include, free accident insurance cover, educational scholarships for the wards of magic families and free magic gadgets for financially poor magicians. The Academy has pioneered the idea of using magic as an efficient medium for spreading virtuous messages including national integration, Gandhian thoughts and communal harmony. Currently, the Academy is led by Jnanpith laureate poet, O.N.V. Kurup as Patron. To the latest, Mr. Muthukad has embarked on 'Mission India', a 60-day voyage through the heart of India spreading messages of peace and harmony to battle terrorism and violence.

Classes are slated to begin by the end of this year. Application forms will be available in the month of October. For more information contact either Magic Academy, Poojappura (PO), Thiruvananthapuram 695012 Kerala or Centre for Adult Continuing Education Extension, Kerala University, PMG, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Tel: 0471 2358910, 9446078535.

Mission India: ‘Shade of love’ to instil love for trees

Kerala leg of the national endeavour will have a segment for conservation of trees, too.

Thiruvananthapuram: A programme for instilling love for trees and environment among school children, presented as part of his national endeavour ‘Mission India’ by magician Gopinath Muthukad, will be held in one school in each of the districts in the State.

Named, ‘Snehathanal’ (Shade of love), the awareness magic show is brought out by the Magic Academy with the support of the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department. ‘Shade of love’ heralds the ideal of growing communal harmony for achieving social amity just like planting trees for getting cool shades. There will be a magic item presented with the participation of school children. Children will plant ‘trees of communal harmony’ one in each school where there is a performance. The Forest Department will provide protective nets for growing trees.

Statelevel inauguration of the event will be performed by the Minister of Forest, Binoy Viswam at 9.30am tomorrow (on 30th of September) at SMV Higher Secondary School. Opposition Leader, Oommen Chandy will preside over the function. Minister of Youth Affairs, V. Surendran Pillai will deliver keynote address. A green plant produced on the magic stage will be handed over to children by poetess Sugathakumari.

Time and venue of the programme from Kollam onwards will be: Kollam (04 October 9.30am), Pathanamthitta (05 October 9.30am), Alappuzha (06 October 9.30am), Kottayam (07 October 9.30am), Idukki (08 October 9.30am), Ernakulam (09 October 9.30am), Thrissur (10 October 9.30am), Palakkad (11 October 9.30am), Malappuram (12 October 9.30am), Kozhikode (13 October 9.30am), Wayanad (14 October 9.30am), Kannur (15 October 9.30am), Kasaragode (15 October 9.30am).