Godman

This is the comic story of a stage magician who wanted to find real magic. Named Harry Singh he meets a man, Bitu, on Blackpool North pier on the coast of North West England. Bitu is being deported back to India because his paperwork has irregularities and Harry, believing himself cursed after a magic trick went wrong, decides to go with him to amass devotees and, therefore, a lot of lucre. Bitu trawls the web for information on how to become a Godman and finds the most useful information in the film Wild Wild Country, “detailing the rise and fall of Bhagwan Rajneesh, AKA Osho.”

After arriving in Delhi they take a train to Allahabad so that Harry can immerse himself in the Sangam river in order to free himself from the curse. On trying to get into the train they discover that it is overloaded with passengers heading for the Kumbh Mela, the huge Hindu Festival held every 12 years. Further adventures ensue as Harry finds he has attracted too many unwanted devotees including thirty Americans from Tennessee who line up to kiss the hand of Bitu now renamed the Maharaja of Patiala. Harry performs some miracles for them. He materialises pearls and discourses on the radiance of the stars and produces white ash.

Deciding to return to the UK they look for a property in Dorset where Harry can hone his skills as a Godman so followers can come to see and listen.

I enjoyed this book very much. The clichés of Indian spiritual life are hilarious. It is full of surprises which I don’t want to give away in this review.

Osho is also mentioned further in the book where he is described as selfish. (That is a view that not everybody shares in my opinion.)

It’s an enjoyable read for anyone who loves India and has a sense of humour. I am from the North West of England and was taken to Blackpool as a child which adds a bit of extra interest for me.

Godman
by Tahir Shah – tahirshah.com
Secretum Mundi Ltd, 2020, 248 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 1912383535
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1912383535
ASIN : ‎ B08GKW1GTS
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Aradhana

Yoga Aradhana: “Quietly ageing watching wild birds.”