P. C. Sorcar
Protul Chandra Sarkar | |
---|---|
P. C. Sorcar | |
Born |
Tangail, Bengal, British India (Present day Bangladesh) | 23 February 1913
Died |
6 January 1971 57) Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan | (aged
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Magician |
Spouse(s) | Basanti Devi |
P. C. Sarkar (Bengali: পি সি সরকার) (23 February 1913 – 6 January 1971) was the stage name of Protul Chandra Sorcar (Bengali: প্রতুলচন্দ্র সরকার), a famous magician.[1] He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his Indrajal show before live audiences and on television. Sorcar died of a heart attack at the age of 58 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan, on January 6, 1971, where he was performing.
Early life
Sorcar was born in a family who were magicians for seven generations on February 23, 1913 in the small town of Tangail in undivided Mymensingh district which now lies in Bangladesh. His father's name is Bhagawan Chandra Sorcar and mother, Kusum Kamini. He had one sibling, a brother, Atul Chandra, ten years younger than him. Sorcar was a brilliant student at school. He graduated from Tangail Shibnath High School in 1929 with first class. In 1931 he earned his I.A. (Intermediate in Arts) degree from the Karotia College (first class) and then joined Ananda Mohan College for BA (Bachelor of Arts) with honours in mathematics. From the very childhood Sorcar found magic to be the passion of his life, which he took up as a full-time profession after he sat for his BA degree tests in 1933. His singular devotion soon brought its own honest reward. His unique feats of the newly cultivated art had soon won robust acclaim from the press and public alike. He was hailed as one giving to the art of Indian magic a new cultural background which readily found a strong international appeal.
Professional life
He became famous since the mid-1930s, when he performed shows in Kolkata and also in Japan and several other countries. Among other routines, he performed a Floating Lady routine featuring aerial suspension in 1964.[2]
Family life
Sorcar was married to the late Basanti Devi (died December 26, 2009, Kolkata). They were the parents of animator, director, and laserist Manick Sorcar and magicians P.C. Sorcar, Jr., and P.C. Sorcar, Young.
Awards
- Jadusamrat P.C. Sorcar Sarani The Government of India has named a major street in Calcutta after him
- Padma Shri (the Lotus), awarded by the President of India on January 26, 1964
- The Sphinx (Oscar of Magic), US, 1946 and 1954
- The Royal Medallion, German Magic Circle
Postage stamp
On 23 February 2010, Indian Post issued a Rs. 5/- stamp to honour him.[3][4]
Publications
- Magic for You (1965)
- More Magic for You (1965)
- History of Magic (1970)
- Indian Magic (1983)
See also
References
- ↑ Parvez, Md Masud (2012). "Sorcar, PC". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Magic of PC Sorcar Senior
- ↑ "Postage Stamps". India Post.
- ↑ "Postage stamp on P.C. Sorcar issued". The Hindu. 24 February 2010.
External links
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