Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100758280200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Little magician dispels myths

Staff Reporter

-PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Small wonder: Shreya performs a magic show sponsored by the Social Development Foundation on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Water caught fire, bare palms held lit-camphor, a fire ball was swallowed, and toys emanated flame-less fumes; all these were not tricks performed by a sorcerer and did not involve any black magic. Instead, they were part of a magic show by T. Sreya, a school-going girl, with help from her mentor-magician E.Chandraiah.

The magic show was organised here on Monday by the Social Development Foundation, New Delhi, in its attempt to dispel the myths about witchcraft and sorcery from the young minds.

E.Chandraiah, Resource Person from the Foundation asked the children to develop spirit of scientific enquiry while advising the elders not to mislead their offspring when it comes to superstitions. Joint Collector Mukteshwar Rao who attended the show said that learning that every action is determined by a material force goes a long way in dispelling myths.

Sreya, a student of Standard VIII from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Picket also explained the science behind the tricks at the end of the show.