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, Saurashtra and Bhavnagar region, there are people whose ancestors have remained eye-witness of this act! [1]

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!

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.

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!

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.[2] 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.[3]

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 Saurashtra and Gujarat. Mohammed Chhel, became a name of reputation and respect in magician fraternity in Gujarat and India.[4] 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 died 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.

• Indian Magicians
• Magician (paranormal)
• Magician (illusion)
• Mysticism

• Story of Mohammed Chhel by Tara Bose
• The Disappearing Trick
• The Street Juggler
• Mohammed Chhel: The people's magician