Memories on Houdini

There won’t be any magician who does not get roused by the memories of Harry Houdini. It is already 84 years after the blessed magician’s demise. Even today, Houdini’s life and messages are evergreen.

Erik Weisz as a small boy in Hungary had no magical background. He was one in the lot and his parents, too were. The life struggles forced the family to sail to Appleton in the United States- may be the first act of escape the great master of escapoloy performed unknowingly at a tender age! In the US, the family just managed to meet the ends together.

Passion for magic grew in the young boy’s heart. As a youngster, Erik’s primary fascination in magic was not for illusions or stage magic. It was a humble dream to become a star in cards. He started taming simple card manipulations. Father of modern magic, Rober Houdin had already become a driving force for him. This became conspicuous when he changed his name into ‘Hari Houdini’. But the youngster failed to live up to the expectation of ‘King of Cards’ the magic name he adopted on stage.

True artistes never succumb to destiny. They re-write the fate in favour of their desire, Harri Houdini. He plunged into thoughts. Finally he found the door to success. He introduced before the world the groundbreaking idea of escape magic tricks.

Soon popularity shot up for him. His name and fame darted reached far distant places. Even in an age of poor communication facilities, Houdini became a name synonym to magic.

Houdini battled strongly against supersti tions. On 31st of October, that marks the death anniversary of the great magician, a resolve to continue the battle would be the best thing we can offer in honour of the great soul.

[Editorial of the Vismayam Magical News, October 2010 issue.]

Socrates' secret for Houdini followers

Before attempting to establish our knowledge, let us go through a set of quotes from the great Greek philosopher, Socrates. Here they are: I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing. I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance. I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing. As for me, all I know is that I know nothing. These well-perceived insight by an eternal doyen of philosophical dialogues should open our eyes.

Learning never stops. Neither does knowledge have a limit. Everyday gifts us newer knowledge. Let us identify them and have an appraisal over the knowledge gathered each day.

There is a lesson in every slot of our action. Read, listen, see, hear and feel them in figures and facts about life; science, truth and so on during each point of our existence. Or else ensure that our activity is such a productive kind that only enhances our knowledge and eradicates the last traces of ignorance.

Magic, as we know, has only three ways to excellence: practice, practice and again practice. Let us recollect the precious sayings of great Socrates and keep our learning process non stop. Let the process continue as long as our Earth has that magical charisma.

Before concluding, here is another dose from the Socrates collection: wisdom begins in wonder. Great. How then magicians, the makers of wonder, can cease the process of learning?

[Editorial of Vismayam Magical News, October 2008 issue.]