Advocate waves the magic wand against adversity

But, nothing in his life — neither his schooling, higher studies nor even his marriage — has been a smooth sailing for him. Maheshwariya was 10-years-old when he thrown out of the house by his father when he showed his disinterest in studies. Maheshwariya’s father, a tailor in Jambusar, wanted him to study and look for a job so that he could help him support his two more sons and five daughters. Away from home, Maheswariya realised the harsh realities of life. He soon found out that finding a part-time in Jambusar was not so easy. So he started distributing newspaper for a living and completed his studies. Later, at the age of 20, he decided to come to Vadodara.

Recalling his earlier days in Vadodara, Maheshwariya says, “I worked as a peon, as a clerk and as what not for people. But I preferred working for advocates so that I could study and also select a career for myself.” But performing magic tricks remained his favourite activity. “I had seen enough of that so-called miracles performed by our local witchmen and had learnt them.”

“Magic,” he says,“is nothing but a mixture of tricks and presentation.” Explaining one of his favourite tricks, Maheshwariya says “If you are aware of the fact that the lower and the central part of a flame is less hot than the top part, you can pass an entire object through the flame without burning it.” And Maheshwariya illustrates this by passing an handkerchief through a flame.

But besides this small tricks, Maheswariya claims he can perform everything other magicians in national and international shows can, including the one in which an object on the stage vanishes into thin air. Maheshwariya has also been honoured twice by the All India Magic Society at Hyderabad and Jaipur in the `non-professional’ category.

Despite the honours, he also had to pay for his passion. According to Maheshwariya, people did not want to marry off their daughter to him as they suspected that the staple diet of a magician might be snakes and fire.

“But my wife and her family was brave and today she supports me in my magic shows,” says Maheshwaruya. Today Maheshwariya holds magic shows only with the intention of spreading awareness among the poor people.

Besides being a magician, Maheshwariya is also an active theatre actor. He, however, has decided now to blend his passion for magic and drama.

“My studies in arts and law help me conceive plots for small plays and my acting skills and magic help it click,” he says. “And the show shall go on”, he reiterates with a spark of confidence and determination in his eyes.

Nevertheless, his future seems comfortable with both his sons doing well in studies and his wife giving him all the support for his profession and hobby.