Magic shows, particularly those performed before gullible assembly of people anywhere, anytime and magicians are always a great hit keeping both kids and adults glued to their seats. The famous postulate of economics namely The law of diminishing marginal utility (stating that as a person increases consumption of a product, at one go, while keeping consumption of other products constant, there is a decline in the marginal utility that person derives from consuming each additional unit of that product), modified to read as “The law of diminishing marginal excitement and happiness” seems to be belied when it comes to witnessing a good magic show. Irrespective of the alertness and intelligence of his audience, the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of the jadugar is to make all unreal phenomena on stage appear real, leaving no doubt in their minds.

Some may equate magic with sorcery, justifiably so if the action is marked by fraud and invites punishment as provided by law. While science is invariably backed by strength of evidence in order to carry conviction, magic does the same through illusion. Anthropologists Edward Tylor (1832-1917) and James George Frazer (1854-1941) have thus  suggested that magic and science are opposite. There is no gainsaying that magic draws far greater number of patrons than science, in spite of all-too-visible achievements of scientists.

Magic, as both a livelihood to its practitioners and means of entertainment to the masses that assemble at its venue, is harmless as long as the action is confined to the stage (or the congested space on the roadside in case of the street-bound jadugar). The fun from make-believe shows of magicians as professionals ends with the equally magic-like prowess of the fraudulent crooks in society, adept in faking everything and anything that sells well, no matter its price tag and mere imitation. Saying that highly rated and largely patronised products as well as services are faked for making a fast buck. Sportswear, electronic devices, jewellery including high cost precious stones, fancied brands of alcoholic drinks, enchanting perfumes, and what have you, have opened unlimited opportunities in the flourishing world of fakes.

But for the willing patronage of the mass of easy-to-fool consuming public, genuine consumer goods would never have been stumped by their fakes. Not much harm done in this scenario compared to the fake doctors treating their captive victims. The disclosure by Karnataka Health Minister in the Legislative Council recently about 2,869 fake doctors detected in the State doesn’t need to be said more.