Kozhikode: “My life’s mission is to bring positive change to the lives of differently abled children”, said renowned magician Gopinath Muthukad to the students of St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, on Thursday. He was interacting with them during a programme titled ‘My Parents: My Heroes’ held at the campus, organised as a prelude to his upcoming magic show ‘Illusion to Inspiration’, scheduled for Saturday at Providence College, Kozhikode. “Bringing positive change to others’ lives gives me more satisfaction than anything else,” he told Ancy, a student who had asked what keeps him motivated.

Sharing a touching anecdote, Muthukad recalled, “Once, a mother of a differently abled boy told me that her only wish was to hear her son call her ‘mother’ at least once in her lifetime. The child was unable to speak properly at the time. We gave him training at our Different Art Centre (DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and his speech gradually improved. By now, he must have called her ‘mother’ more than a thousand times.”

Muthukad explained that the DAC empowers children with disabilities by training them in various art forms, including magic, music, and dance. He also spoke about a major upcoming initiative: the International Institute of People with Disabilities (IIPD), which will soon be inaugurated in Kasaragod. “The IIPD will support and train 1,000 differently abled children,” he said.

Encouraging students to persevere through hardships, Muthukad said, “I have failed many times in life - even while performing escape acts. But I turned every failure into a stepping stone toward success. One should never give up after failure.”

Earlier, a documentary titled “Gopinath Muthukad: 45 Years of Magic - The Real-Life Magician”, chronicling his 45-year-long magical journey was screened. The film deeply moved the audience. Students said it inspired them to pursue their dreams with dedication and passion.