N.B. Nair
This man was an internationally acclaimed magician from India, perhaps equally or more popular after Proful Chandra Sorcar (Sr). He became the first magician in the world to perform an escape act in the style of Harry Houdini’s act in 1904 and a recipient of the International Merlin Award instituted by the International Magician’s Society.
Gopinath Muthukad is not merely a professional magician. He used magic to convey messages of social relevance – against irrational beliefs, superstitions, violence, and other evils in society. He founded the world’s first magic academy, The Academy of Magical Sciences, and the first magic museum – Magic Planet in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Gopinath undertook four national expeditions to foster national integration, spread the messages of Mahatma Gandhi, Communal Harmony, counter-violence, and terrorism, and spread awareness against drug and alcohol abuse.
But what brought Gopinath to public attention in recent times is his announcement to retire from professional magic at the pinnacle of his career and spend the rest of his life for the betterment of differently able children. Though he had been working to empower differently-abled children since 2017, it was on 17 November 2021, he vowed to devote himself entirely to such children, giving up his profession.
Gopinath has been training differently abled children in magic and formed a team named ‘MPower.’ His Magic Academy later decided to set up a permanent platform for those children to perform. The centre trains and develops their talents, while ensuring life skills to make them more self-aware and confident. His initiatives have fructified and scores of differently abled children have become breadwinners for their families.
“The Universal Empowerment Centre is now ready for opening. Now children with cerebral palsy, autism and intellectual disability can do magic, learn music and painting, and earn a livelihood. Children with visual and hearing disabilities can perform at specially created theatres and receive the appreciation of the public,” said Gopinath in a video message on the completion of one year of his mission after quitting professional magic.
“Those children could upscale their talents at one of the best facilities in our country. Those with aptitude in sports could get training here, and do research in science. This Centre will be the first of its kind in the world,” he added.
A team of 10 differently-abled children presented scientific posters on their research findings during the 34th Kerala Science Congress in February 2022. It was the first time, differently-abled children were given an opportunity for scientific presentation and interaction with seasoned scientists, researchers, and academicians.
Though initially, he faced the dilemma of quitting professional magic, Gopinath said, the change he made in the lives of those differently abled children was worth it.
“Let me confess, the pain still lingers. When I look at the instruments or properties made for stage performances of magic, I still have intense mental trauma. When I watch old videos of highly successful performances, my eyes get wet unintentionally. One year was without the glitter and glamour of the world of magic. My tears are nothing in comparison to the tears of that mother, who came with her violent son with autism, pleading ‘We want to see my son die before we breathe our last.’
The Different Art Centre acts as a window of opportunity for identifying, training, and refining the basic talents of differently-abled children in different art forms.
In August 2022, children from Gopinath’s centre staged a performance in the national capital New Delhi and interacted with the President of India Draupadi Murmu.
“We need to change a lot; our outlook and approach towards differently-abled children, their rights. I witnessed the care being taken for differently-abled children in other countries; how they embrace such children. I have now no other dreams. Do whatever I can for them,” Gopinath spoke of his plans.
Gopinath said, his institution takes care of the needs of 200 children. But he plans to scale it up to help at least 1000 differently-abled children; set up a university for their education, and help the suffering people of Kasargod (Endosulfan-affected), in the northern part of Kerala.
“My dream is to help those children and their parents, who have forgotten to dream,” he summed up while seeking support from the public.
Image courtesy: Different Art Centre, Thiruvananthapuram