Mohammed Chhel originally a

fakir Fakir, faqeer, or faqīr (; (noun of faqr)), derived from ''faqr'' (, 'poverty'), is an Islamic term traditionally used for Sufi Muslim ascetics who renounce their worldly possessions and dedicate their lives to the worship of God. They do ...

( mystic) was a renowned magician of

Saurashtra Saurashtra, Sourashtra, or variants may refer to: ** Kathiawar, also called Saurashtra Peninsula, a peninsula in western India ** Saurashtra (state), alias United State of Kathiawar, a former Indian state, merged into Bombay State and since its d ...

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

. Mohammed Chhel was born in 1850 in Ningala, a small village and a railway junction in Gadhada Taluka of

Bhavnagar Bhavnagar is a city and the headquarters of Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was founded in 1723 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a princely state before it was merged into the Dominion ...

district in

(

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

). Basically he was a Pir of a known

Dargah A Sufi shrine or dargah ( ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargāh'' दरगाह درگاہ, ''dôrgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervi ...

and was involved in benevolent works the entirety of his life. Said to have been blessed with supernatural powers, Mohammed Chhel eventually turned magician but his character and nobility were those of a mystic. The message of life he wished to convey to people was that of himself serving society and helping the needy with his magnetic aura and miraculous acts, flavored by his sense of humor. 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.

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

and

region, there are people whose ancestors have remained eye-witness of this act!

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

and

. 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 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chhel, Mohammed 1850 births 1925 deaths Indian magicians People from Gujarat People from Bhavnagar district

Popular incidents of Mohammed Chhel

Mischief, superiors and experiences

Mission and message

See also

References