We are delighted to hear that Dr Sugata Nandi of West Bengal State University (Visiting Research Fellow 2018) has been awarded a prestigious Visiting Research Fellowship at Senate House Library, University of London, to carry forward his project on the history of globalization of Indian magic from 1790 to 1950. While at IASH, Dr Nandi researched how magicians and spiritualists in Britain invented the concept of 'Indian Magic', examining both the invention and subsequent debunking of Indian Magic as a cultural phenomenon by gentleman magicians, and spiritualists’ interpretation of Indian rituals as supernatural. He analysed printed material pertaining to 'Indian Magic' of the Victorian and Edwardian periods, photographs of performance of magic, and posters of magicians advertizing 'Indian Magic' as part of their shows, arguing that 'Indian Magic' was a power/knowledge which was carefully employed to construct India as Orient, both exotic and aberrant in the modern world.
Towards the end of his visit to Edinburgh, Dr Nandi presented a Work in Progress talk which gave a detailed and beautifully illustrated account of the ‘discovery’ and popularisation of Indian magic within the British Empire, and explored how the meanings of these practices were negotiated and developed in Britain and in the United States, as well as back in India. While in London, he will enjoy access to the Harry Price Library of Magical Literature. Many congratulations on securing the next step in this fascinating project.