The pleasant feel of homecoming

Speaker of Kerala, K. Radhakrishnan (Right) receiving back the National Flag from magician Gopinath Muthukad at Gandhi Park in Thiruvananthapuram.

Homecoming is something precious for all. Its soothing value multiplies when you reach home after a tiring 60-day voyage of fierce trials and tribulations. The homecoming equals a sublime experience especially when the expedition is on road, upholding a mission of unity and harmony, battling challenging geographical adversities. This is exactly what the Vismay Swaraj Yatra team led by magical maestro Gopinath Muthukad has experienced on 30th November.


This map has the route traversed by the magical entourage, highlighted.

After traversing a huge distance of 17500 kilometers by a bus and a pickup van, the 26-member entourage comprising of seven girls were back in Thiruvananthapuram, Capital City of their home State Kerala. It was from here that they had begun the magical voyage on 21st of September. For the dedicated team who had successfully linked together multitudes of Indian hearts together using the graceful strings of magic, waiting was rousing reception at Gandhi Park. The function was organised by the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board (KSYWB).

The sprawling lawns of the park were packed by spectators well in advance, thanks to a charming performance by reputed street magician Farooq and his ward. When the vehicles carrying the euphoric magical entourage approached the park, they were first received by a resounding patriotic song sung by NBS Youth choir.



M.L.A., V. Sivankutty (Right) honouring driver of the Vismay Swaraj Yatra bus, M.V. Narayanan (Mama) and driver of Pickup van, Shafeek (below) for their immaculate performances.



All the 26 members of the magic team were seated on chairs set on a pristine stage, with their leader Mr. Muthukad on the front row along with a row of dignitaries. The event was graced with the presence of the Speaker of Kerala Assembly, K. Radhakrishnan; Members of Legislative Assembly, K. Sivankutty and Surendran Pillai; District Collector, N. Ayyappan, Padmasree laureate poet and patron of Magic Academy, O.N.V. Kurup, Vice Chairman of KSYWB, Sreerama Krishnan; Vice Chairman of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Kodikunnil Suresh, Chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, Cheriyan Philip and Member Secretary of KSYWB, Dr. Muhammed Ashraf.

When Mr. Muthukad was invited for giving a brief description of the experiences of the all India voyage, there was a perfect silence among the audience. With his usual deftness, he used a lucid language to draw a clear but concise figure of the delights and dismays of a 60-day voyage through the vast expanse of the country.

Then, there were sentimentally rousing moments when the National Flag that had been kept as a source of motivation by the Vismay Swaraj Yatra was formally returned to the Speaker by the magician. The flag was entrusted to them on 20th September by the Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan. The return ceremony has displayed how deeply each member of the magic team is inclined to the National Flag. At first Divya, a girl member of the entourage unfurled the flag from the extreme end. Then it was handed over to each other who received the Flag in standing position. Finally, it was handed over to the team leader Mr. Muthukad by Co-ordinator of the voyage, K.P. Sivakumar.

"Muthukad's successful completion of the Vismay Swaraj Yatra is a matter of pride for the entire nation and particularly for all Malayalees", the Speaker said during his inaugural address. He also added that the magical mission was worth emulative for people of all spheres, who wish to contribute something for the unity of the nation.

"No effort becomes an art unless it is of any use for the humanity", commented Mr. O.N.V. Kurup, praising the admirable model set by Mr. Muthukad. Mr. Sivankutty distributed to the Yatra team mementos issued by the Cultural Department, whereas Mr. Surendran Pillai gave away certificates from the KSYWB.
Distrct Collector stole the event with his gifted talent for singing. For the occasion he had Vayalar's popular lyrics: Manushyan Mathangale Srishtichu… (Man created religions…).

Magic through the corporate coridors

Future of magic proves to be ever-blossoming

Kolkata: A retrospective after 30 days of the sixty-day Vismay Swaraj Yatra, shows conspicuous caliber of magical art in successfully carrying to the masses, the messages of corporate giants, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Union Bank of India (UBI).
Both LIC and UBI are among the principal sponsors of the Yatra, besides Ministry of Defence and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.
‘Fortune Plus’, the best product of LIC and ‘Good people to bank with’, the slogan of UBI are promoted in a magical way during Vismay Swaraj Yatra performances.
The LIC Fortune Plus magic ends with the magician’s advice to immediately contact the nearest LIC agent for buying the profitable product.


UBI magic has the message that your money is safe with the branches of the UBI.
Besides LIC and UBI, co-sponsoring the event are State Bank of Travancore and Federal Bank. Earlier the Kerala part of the voyage was also supported by the Kerala State Co-operative Bank.
When magic as a medium sends such a strong message in promoting two developmental icons of India, it implies the happy fact that the art of magic is never dying but blooms into new colours.

India Gate opens to an inspiring magic

First time in history

New Delhi: Gopinath Muthukad’s patriotic magic shows inspired a big crowd of passers by, visitors and dignitaries at the foot of the national icon, India Gate here on 18th Oct.
The programme was organized by the Ceremonial and Welfare Directorate of the Indian Army and the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan as part of the magician’s Vismay Swaraj Yatra. The show was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Oscar Fernandez, who along with other dignitaries set free pairs of pigeons magically created out of thin air by the magician.
The segregated space very near to the Amar Jawan Jyoti that has been under the exclusive custody of Indian Army, was opened for the magic team. Unlike formal magic shows, the performance here by Mr. Muthukad had all salient features of a street play.
Inspiring message
The show began drawing everyone’s attention to an ancient Indian civilization. To an overwhelming applause and flashes from the media cameras, the magic team presented their show in a thoroughly new style.
As the evening Sun settled down on the horizon over Rashtrapathi Bhawan, the team concluded their patriotically-charged magic show sending a strong message against terrorism and secessionism.
Elite gathering
Dignitaries including the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, A.K. Arora, Director General of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Shakeel Ahamed Khan and heroin of yesteryears and a prominent socialite Nafeesa Ali were searching for enough words to describe the feel they could gain from the majestic performance.
Magic before monuments
Red Fort, Kutab Minar and Gandhi Smriti were also venues for the meaningful demonstrations.
At occasions, such shows were surprising sources of joy for the visitors.
Regardless of age and gender, people thronged around the magic team getting themselves led to a world of wonders and worthy
messages.

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.