Mission Srinagar: Touching the forehead of Mother India

Srinagar: For the Vismay Swaraj Yatra entourage, performing here was just like touching the forehead of and getting the blessings from the mother Nation.
While traveling from Jammu to Srinagar escorted by heavily armed security vehicles, anxiety burgeoned in their minds. Since there was a warning that vehicles decorated with tricolour images and inscribed with logos of Defence Ministry would easily invite attention of the insurgents, the concern only multiplied.
Sight of vigilant BSF men roaming in the shades of Chinar trees and the murmuring of the river Chenab could only add to the dubious hues.
If these were all manmade reasons of worry, the nature’s challenge was a 300 kilometers of precarious mountain trails for the entourage to cover. Narrow roads, hairpin curves edged by steep vales on one side and landslide prone hills on the other side remained remorselessly.
At least twice the vehicles had to halt for hours due to abrupt landslides. During such indefinite situations, escorting security personals gave care and encouragement for the magical visitors. Mohamed Yasin, Mohamed Yusuf, Abdul Rasheed and Mushtaq Ahmed of the J & K Police established an intimate friendship with the team.
Driver of the magic bus, M.V. Narayanan, called lovingly as ‘mama’, was the first person to receive praise for the safe and successful accomplishment of the mission Srinagar.

Muthukad's effort, need of the hour: Gulam Nabi Azad

Srinagar: In the morning on 2nd Oct., even as the Dal Lake – the Kashmiri feast for the eyes delight for the hearts – remained frozen amid beefed up security, tricolours fluttered and ‘Vande Maatharam’ resounded from Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on its banks, where magician Gopinath Muthukad and his 26 members were performing patriotic magic show. And that marked the beginning of Vismay Swaraj Yatra from Srinagar, the place that unfortunately has been the major target for the evil forces who looks for a chance to destabilize peace and harmony of India. At the end of the magic show, marking the formal inauguration of the Yatra, Gulam Nabi Azad, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir entrusted the National Flag to Mr. Muthukad and requested, “Continue your performance, its very nice”.
CM’s praise
“Mr. Muthukad’s efforts of extensively traveling through the length and breadth of the nation, spreading the messages of national integration, peace and nonviolence is admirable. It is need of the hour”, the Chief Minister added.
Nonviolence Day
The function was all part of the International Day for Nonviolence, the latest global form of Gandhi Jayanti. The government function to observe the day was arranged at the pristine lawns of SKICC where thousand of school children and general public were assembled. Nobody could enter that extensive venue without being checked at security points that were in plenty.
Security check
There was no exception for the magic team. Each of them, the vehicles and magical equipments were checked thoroughly, consuming a lot of time befoe entry was signalled. Thick cordons of BSF and CRPF jawans gave the ambience a tint of anxiety in the minds of the entourage from the South who were not accustomed to such situations.

Saluting a martyr and starting a mission

Thiruvananthapuram: It counts how you begin a mission. To begin his Vismay Swaraj Yatra, magician Gopinath Muthukad had an admirable magic commemorating valiant martyr, Bhagat Singh. The occasion was the farewell offered by the State on 20th Sept. under the aegis of the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board (KSYWB).
The resourceful magician’s latest feat titled ‘Thookkumaram Sakshi’ (In front of the gallows) had several features that made it different from usual stunt stuffs. An iron platform stood high with six poles tied with nooses, awaiting the magician who would come as a representative of the young, eternal Bhagat Singh.
August gathering
When the magician came in the guise of the martyr gazing at him was an inquisitive audience including Chief Minister of Kerala, V.S. Achuthanandan; Opposition Leader, Oommen Chandy; Minister of Law, Sports and Youth Welfare, M. Vijayakumar; M.L.A., N. Sakthan; Vice Chairman of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Kodikunnil Suresh; Vice Chairman of KSYWB, P. Sreeramakrishnan; literary scholar Dr. George Onakoor and chief officers from LIC of India and Union Bank of India.
Magic with a message
Mr. Muthukad announced his magic’s message: no more imperial forces can hang a Bhagat Singh again. Then it was the Chief Minister’s turn to select a pole from the six, for the magician to be hanged. The CM’s selection was the 4th pole.
Dramatic scenes
Immediately men dressed as the old British police, captured the magician. As he was carried to the gallows, a sensational music filled the air.
The executioner stopped at No.4 pole. The noose was tightened around the neck of a helpless magician whose hands were tied to the back. Rest of the five nooses were put around the necks of five dummies.

The hangman in dark attire pulled the liver. All of a sudden, the platforms beneath the poles gave way – a scene that forced many mild-hearted persons to close their eyes. Hardly a couple of seconds of bated breath and elevated anxiety… all the five dummies were perfectly hanged… To the astonishment of the crowd, the magician had a lightning escape!
Admirations
“101 admirations to Muthukad” the CM commented instantly. As love and compliments were been showered upon Mr. Muthukad, he along with his 26-member team were gathering energy from the euphoric moments for their mammoth effort ahead.