From passion to profession: 30 years with magic

Chittagong-born Rajib Basak, a leading magician, likes to introduce himself as a magic entertainer. But it's been a long haul. “When I decided to pursue magic as my profession, I was a bit uncertain whether I could survive, especially living outside the capital city,” said Basak to The Daily Star. “But I was determined to pursue my career in magic as it's my passion and a form of contemplation.”

Rajib's decision proved right on target. He has bagged the glorious experience of performing around 10,000 magic shows at home and abroad.  

When Rajib started to work with magic in 1986, he was just a 16-year-old teenager who had finished his SSC examination. Inspired by the magic shows of country's famous magician Jewel Aich, Rajib became passionate about magic in his childhood.

When Jewel Aich came to Chittagong for a show at Institute of Engineers in 1984, the little Rajib met him and expressed his desire to become a magician.

“Jewel Aich affectionately advised me to complete my studies first,” said. “Then in 1986 I joined one of my friends who use to do magic.”

 “Slowly, I realised that I couldn't live without magic and so in 2005, I decided to take up magic as my profession,” said Rajib.

“I prefer to introduce myself as a magic entertainer rather than a magician,” he said. “I have a commitment to society, to this country and so I try to disseminate positive messages and messages of patriotism through my shows.”

It's been tough.  “There is no stage meant for magic shows anywhere in the country. Magicians remain neglected in the country's official cultural exchange tours abroad.”

“We used to see magic shows in the magazine programmes of Bangladesh Television regularly even 15 years ago but now we don't although there are a sizeable number of private television channels in the country,” signed off Basak.