Net of Magic

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Vast like the subcontinent itself, this enthralling voyage explores the netherworld of Indian magic, revealing both ancient practices and contemporary street and stage performances. Scholar and magician Lee Siegel journeys from ancient Sanskrit texts to the slums of New Delhi, uncovering remnants of a remarkable magical tradition. In Shadipur, he is initiated into a group of Muslim street conjurers, performing as their shill while learning their craft. He also encounters Hindu theatrical magicians, who, claiming descent from court illusionists, perform tricks dressed as maharajahs, blending poignant kitsch with glitz. Siegel masterfully weaves travelogue, history, ethnography, and fiction, creating a vivid, often comic narrative filled with shills, tourists, snake charmers, and fakirs. Key characters include Naseeb, a poor Muslim magician who introduces Siegel to itinerant performers; the Industrial Magician, who uses tricks to sell traveler's checks; and the Government Magician, who promotes family planning through clever illusions. The narrative also features P. C. Sorcar, Jr., India's celebrated stage magician, and the fictive Professor M. T. Bannerji, the world's greatest magician, who traverses a millennium of Indian history to reach Las Vegas. Like Indra's net, this portrayal ensnares readers in a world where deception is celebrated, transforming lies into compelling truths.