Mohammed Chhel
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Chhel originally a Fakir
(Mystic
) was a renowned Magician of Saurashtra
, Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel was born in 1850 in Ningala, a small village and a railway junction in Gadhada
Taluka of Bhavnagar
district in Saurashtra
, Gujarat (India
). Basically he was a Pir
of a known Dargah
and was involved his whole life in benevolent works. Said to have blessed with supernatural powers, Mohammed Chhel eventually turned magician but his character and nobility, message of life he wanted to convey to people, himself serving the society and helping needy with his magnetic aura and some miraculous acts flavored by his fine sense of humor remained more a qualities and characteristics of a mystic.
and Gujarat. And eventually, his magic and acts became evident across Rail trips. People would unfailingly encounter an experience of Mohammed Chhel's magic and miracles if they were traveling by train and if their luck to strike to come across Mohammed Chhel in the train or at the railway station.
Ningala, yet a small town, still a railway junction became instrumental and medium for his train encounters earned him lasting fame. Due to his extra-ordinary persona and god gifted powers, Mohammed Chhel occupied a distinct place other than the conventional and contemporary magicians, and successful tricksters may have in people's minds. He knowingly or unknowingly served as Psychiatrist and a respected mystic to be remembered for. Reason is it was more his healing than obvious amusement, shocking surprises, miracles and entertainment his acts provided.
and Bhavnagar
region, there are people whose ancestors have remained eye-witness of this act!
and Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel, became a name of reputation and respect in magician fraternity
in Gujarat and India. Defying the routine 'magician' term, Chhel's contribution was more than that of a magician. He would strive and spontaneously extend by his acts and tricks for the benefit of fellows and countrymen.
Exact date of Mohammed Chhel's death is not known, albeit he passed away in 1925. Some still term a few incidents as stories that have been flowing for over a century with all authentic details and proof remaining verifiable, and many still who shared their eye-witness accounts among locals and in their families happen to attest, those were true. Reason could be those miracles and acts attained the rank of stories because Mohammed Chhel and his real mystic - magical acts got woven in people heart and memory over the years and over the generations.
Fakir
The fakir or faqir ; ) Derived from faqr is a Muslim Sufi ascetic in Middle East and South Asia. The Faqirs were wandering Dervishes teaching Islam and living on alms....
(Mystic
Mystic
Mystic or Mistick may refer to:* A person who practices mysticism, or a reference to a mystery, mystic studies or the occult.Ships:, two ships of the Royal Navy, a ship of the United States Navy* DSRV-1 Mystic, a rescue submersible of the USN...
) was a renowned Magician of Saurashtra
Saurashtra
Saurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar who ruled part of the region once. The Peninsula is shared with the Kachchh region which occupies the north, Saurashtra or Sorath forming the...
, Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel was born in 1850 in Ningala, a small village and a railway junction in Gadhada
Gadhada
Gadhada is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. Gadhada is situated at bank of River Ghelo.- Geography :Gadhada is located at . It has an average elevation of 104 metres .- Demographics :...
Taluka of Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
district in Saurashtra
Saurashtra
Saurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar who ruled part of the region once. The Peninsula is shared with the Kachchh region which occupies the north, Saurashtra or Sorath forming the...
, Gujarat (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
). Basically he was a Pir
Pir (Sufism)
Pir or Peer is a title for a Sufi master equally used in the nath tradition. They are also referred to as a Hazrat or Shaikh, which is Arabic for Old Man. The title is often translated into English as "saint" and could be interpreted as "Elder". In Sufism a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his...
of a known Dargah
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
and was involved his whole life in benevolent works. Said to have blessed with supernatural powers, Mohammed Chhel eventually turned magician but his character and nobility, message of life he wanted to convey to people, himself serving the society and helping needy with his magnetic aura and some miraculous acts flavored by his fine sense of humor remained more a qualities and characteristics of a mystic.
Train and the Chhel
Mohammed Chhel had a definite sense and sensibility, a fine sense of humor and rare message of life to convey, all which mainly addressed people who were hardworking, honest, innocent villagers, peasants, countrymen and mass belonging to towns and countryside. Chhel became earnestly popular among train passengers as he frequently used to travel by train between countryside of SaurashtraSaurashtra
Saurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar who ruled part of the region once. The Peninsula is shared with the Kachchh region which occupies the north, Saurashtra or Sorath forming the...
and Gujarat. And eventually, his magic and acts became evident across Rail trips. People would unfailingly encounter an experience of Mohammed Chhel's magic and miracles if they were traveling by train and if their luck to strike to come across Mohammed Chhel in the train or at the railway station.
Ningala, yet a small town, still a railway junction became instrumental and medium for his train encounters earned him lasting fame. Due to his extra-ordinary persona and god gifted powers, Mohammed Chhel occupied a distinct place other than the conventional and contemporary magicians, and successful tricksters may have in people's minds. He knowingly or unknowingly served as Psychiatrist and a respected mystic to be remembered for. Reason is it was more his healing than obvious amusement, shocking surprises, miracles and entertainment his acts provided.
Popular incidents of Mohammed Chhel
There are plenty of his acts, miracles and occasions which people still remember through their ancestors and in form of stories from locals. A few incidents such as, he could make a train ticket checker shocked by producing avalanche of tickets out of his chin! His unbelievable acts a number of times for he had decoupled a running train with only engine chugging away! Among the locals in the Gujarat, SaurashtraSaurashtra
Saurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar who ruled part of the region once. The Peninsula is shared with the Kachchh region which occupies the north, Saurashtra or Sorath forming the...
and Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
region, there are people whose ancestors have remained eye-witness of this act!
Moneylender stuck and unstuck
One more incident, once a poor villager was in clutches of a moneylender after the peasant borrowed some money from the moneylender. Chhel freed the villager from the clutches of moneylender by casting a spell that did not allow him to get out of his own chair! The moneylender realized and confessed for his falsified account on the name of the peasant. He wrote off those debts and then Chhel let the moneylender go unstuck!Merchant's ailing wife
Another well known case, once a troubled merchant wanted to know about his ailing wife in Mumbai and it was not common to have telephones those days. Especially, telephone facility was rare in rural areas. The worried local merchant came to Mohammed Chhel, knowing his miracles and powers. Chhel put his palm across the merchant's eyes and asked him if he could see his wife. The gentleman was amused and relieved to see his wife working in the kitchen, hale and hearty. Later the news of her well-being reached him, confirming the powers of Mohammed Chhel.If not sweets, beware of Cobra
A sweet and cobra incident/story is also popular among the people. Once during a train ride, a rich man sitting across Mohammed Chhel held a basket of sweets in his lap. Occasionally he looked around and popped a sweet into his mouth when nobody was looking. Chhel requested the man to share his goodies with fellow passengers who happened to be poor folk. But the man did not pay any heed to this. At this, Chhel told him to be careful when he picked up another round of sweets from his basket. Ignoring the warning, the man dipped his hand once moreinto the basket and pulled out a hissing cobra instead of a sweet!Mischief, superiors and experiences
Mohammed Chhel, because of his tricks, some times for his spontaneous acts and due to his fame, unknowingly made people cautious and at times made them frightened too. Although, his acts were purely for fun, entertainment and some message, he would not hesitate going extravagant at times. His mischievous stance and fame, while earned him reputation and admiration, it also questioned him for a few times. For example a famous Jain Muni Shri Vijaynemisuriji Maharaj, to teach Chhel not to harass Sadhus and Saints, knowingly or otherwise if he would ever come across them. . One more incidence is of one Ismaili Imam Saheb who would make Mohammed Chhel wonder-struck in response to Chhel's proposal for showing his own magic acts.Mission and message
Mohammed Chhel attained, although he was already one, the honorable title of 'Pir', meaning a mystique, a fakir. He is often remembered as Pir Mohammed Chhel among the people, across the region and in the provinces of SaurashtraSaurashtra
Saurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar who ruled part of the region once. The Peninsula is shared with the Kachchh region which occupies the north, Saurashtra or Sorath forming the...
and Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel, became a name of reputation and respect in magician fraternity
Indian magicians
Stage or street magic has a long history in India. Popular tricks include the rope trick, Indian basket, Green Mango Mystery, Indian Cups and Ball, and Indian Flying Man.-Modern history of Indian magic:...
in Gujarat and India. Defying the routine 'magician' term, Chhel's contribution was more than that of a magician. He would strive and spontaneously extend by his acts and tricks for the benefit of fellows and countrymen.
Exact date of Mohammed Chhel's death is not known, albeit he passed away in 1925. Some still term a few incidents as stories that have been flowing for over a century with all authentic details and proof remaining verifiable, and many still who shared their eye-witness accounts among locals and in their families happen to attest, those were true. Reason could be those miracles and acts attained the rank of stories because Mohammed Chhel and his real mystic - magical acts got woven in people heart and memory over the years and over the generations.
See also
- Indian MagiciansIndian magiciansStage or street magic has a long history in India. Popular tricks include the rope trick, Indian basket, Green Mango Mystery, Indian Cups and Ball, and Indian Flying Man.-Modern history of Indian magic:...
- Magician (paranormal)
- Magician (illusion)
- MysticismMysticismMysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...