COVID RELIEF - Kathputli Colony Magician Families
REHMAN SHAH - Chief artist and magician of over 30 folk artists families, needs your help. COVID-19 has decimated their community, making it impossible to perform (work) or to feed their families, with extreme lockdown measures in place.
WHO ?
In 2017 as part of an Australian transcultural partnership partly funded by the Australian High Commission, our show Mada's Marvels featuring The Cardistry Boys was invited to tour with author John Zubrzycki through Mumbai and Delhi. 
Part of our tour took us into the heart of the infamous Kathputli Colony to meet chief magician/artist Mr Rehman Shah. The Kathputli Colony; a slum in West Delhi, "was" home to several generations of traditional folk artists. The families, which consist of acrobats, puppeteers, folk musicians, dancers, snake charmers, sculptors, magicians, painters and bioscope makers, among others, settled here from different parts of the country almost four decades ago.
Our visit was one of the most profound experiences of my 20 year career as a professional magician. We had a magicians tea party on Rehman's roof, after hours of tea and swapping tricks of the trade, we were invited downstairs to see a "levitation". 
I now understand why western travellers for centuries have returned from India with amazing tales. The levitation was nothing short of incredible. In front of our eyes, with no fancy lights or trickery, the elderly gentleman floated effortlessly to the ceiling.
Rehman Shah, his sons and the many families that he guides and look up to him, are the last of an important Indian cultural heritage. In 2015 an awarding winning documentary was made about Rehman and the Kathputli families and the demolishing of their colony to make way for a shopping mall. You can watch the full story here in the award-winning documentary about Rehman and his community: Tomorrow We Disappear
WHY ? (COVID-19 IMPACT)
Rehman and Family
Rehman and the 30 or so families that he provides for, are currently living in a Transit camp in New Delhi. Strict lockdowns, are preventing them from leaving the transit camp, preventing them from working and earning any money.
Now is the peak season for weddings and cultural performances when traditionally the artists made the bulk of their living, but due to COVID-19 all gatherings have been cancelled. At the same time, daily wage workers have also lost their jobs and their only source of income. The community is now in crisis. There is no money coming in, no support from the government, and many cannot afford even basic food, water and medical supplies for their families.
Forget Jobkeeper and Jobseeker, forget arts grants. There is zero government support, the families are in desperate need for funds to buy food.
HOW WILL IT HELP ?
Two months ago, John Zubrzycki and myself sent across several hundred dollars to buy food. It brought tears to my eyes, when Rehman sent through videos of the food we bought that he distributed to the families. This small gesture helped several families for a few weeks. Below is a photo of Rehman distributing some of the food we bought to the families.
They need much more help.
The funds that we raise will not go into some program, it will not go to an organisation or an NGO, nor will it be chewed up by administration costs. The funds we raise together will go directly to Rehman Shah, who has the responsibility to his community to buy and distribute the food.
This is direct aid, and you will immediately see the effect of a small gesture. You and I will see young children eat the food that we bought for them.
WHAT DOES YOUR DONATION PROVIDE?
$100AUD approx will provide food for one family for around a month. We are hoping to provide food for 30 families for one month at a minimum. It would be amazing if we could provide this aid for 2 months or more.
Rehman will be providing live updates on his Facebook Page , with videos and images of the support in action.
1 Month basic rations typically include:
Aata flour - 30 Kg
Mustard Oil - 3 Kgs
Dal - 5 Kgs
Sugar - 3 Kgs
Tea - 1 Kgs
Salt - 2 Kgs
Masala - 250 gms
Onions and potatoes 5 kg
Dettol Soap - 5 pcs
Biscuits - 1 kgs
Masks - 5 pcs
John Zubrzycki
John has written extensively on India and in particular on the cultural heritage of Indian Magic.
His latest book Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic is published in by Hurst (UK), Oxford University Press (USA) and Scribe (Australia). It is published in India as Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinns: A Magical History of India by Picador.
He is the best-selling author of The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback (2006 Pan Macmillan, Australia; 2007 Picador, India) and The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy (2013 Random House, India; 2017 Transit Lounge, Australia).
In 2018 he completed a doctorate at the University of New South Wales investigating the historical links between Indian and Western stage magicians.
