Jewel Aich

Aich was born in Shomdekathi, East Bengal (present-day Barisal District, Bangladesh), the fifth of nine children born to Indian businessman Bijoy Kumar (B.K.) Aich and Saraju Aich, a homemaker. From a young age, he was fascinated by magic and choreography; his interest grew after a Romani man performed a magic and dance routine during a visit to Aich's family home. On 23 July 1985, Aich married Pasha Khoshnu, daughter of Professor Darbesh Ali Khan and a political science teacher at Dhaka University. After their wedding, Pasha Khoshnu became known as Bipasha Aich. The couple have one daughter, Kheya Aich, who has appeared onstage with her mother during Aich's performances.{{Cite web |last=mw |date=2024-01-24 |title=A Touch of Impossible |url=https://mansworldbangladesh.com/2024/01/24/a-touch-of-impossible/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=MW |language=en-US}}

In 1971, after finishing his studies, Aich and his family participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War. While in Bahadurpur (Nadiya), West Bengal, India, at a freedom fighters' camp, he taught students in refugee camps. He also performed magic to entertain and inspire the children at the camp.{{Cite news |date=2013-06-14 |title=Jewel Aich An avid collector |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/jewel-aich-an-avid-collector |access-date=2019-07-08 |work=Daily Star |language=en-US}} After becoming ill, he continued teaching in the refugee camps.{{cite book |last1=Aich |first1=Jewel |title=Antarālera āmi |year=1997 |publisher=Samaẏa Prakāśana |location=Dhaka |isbn=9-84-458127-3 |page=53 |language=bn}}

After the Liberation War, Aich began writing regularly for Kishore Bangla, a newspaper for young people, and received letters from fans around the country. One young fan from Rajshahi would address him as "Jewel Aich" instead of "G.L. Aich." Finding this simpler than his own name, he received permission from his family before changing his name to Jewel Aich.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 1956, Jewel Aich was admitted to Samade Kati Primary School. In 1962, he was admitted to Pirojpur Government High School in class VI. He completed his Secondary School Certificate examination (SSC) in 1967, and his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) from Pirojpur College in 1969. Afterwards, he enrolled at Jagannath University in Dhaka. Due to the Pakistani invasion, he was unable to sit for his B.A. final examination in 1971 and instead joined the liberation war from his home village. After the independence of Bangladesh, he received his bachelor's degree from Jagannath University in 1972. He also studied classical music in Dhaka and went to the United States to study filmmaking.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

After Bangladesh's independence, he taught at his village's "Samade Kati High School" from 1972 to 1977, later becoming its principal.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

{{BLP sources|date=November 2023}}

Aich developed a fascination with magic at a young age. After seeing a Romani man perform magic during a visit to Aich's village, he was immediately drawn to it. He later saw a circus performing in a nearby settlement and was impressed by a magician who appeared to cut off his assistant's neck. Inspired by the trick, he designed a special knife, which he later demonstrated to his friends by "cutting off" a friend's leg. Aich learned some tricks from fellow magician Abdur Rashid of the Lion Circus in Pirojpur. By the time he enrolled in college, he was already known in his district as an amateur magician.

As a performer, he was motivated by Charlie Chaplin and sought to convey the message of global brotherhood through magic. In 1981, he was invited to America by the Society of American Magicians to perform a show. On 26 March 1986, Jewel Aich performed magic on the eve of Independence Day at the National Stadium.

In 1977, a Bangladeshi TV host, Abdullah Abu Syed, invited Aich to perform magic on his show, which was Aich's first appearance on television. He would subsequently appear in more television shows, such as Ananda Mela and Ityadi. Later, he created several of his own TV specials at Bangladesh Television (BTV); one of these, 'Anandamela, Magic World of Jewel Aich', was named Program of the Year.

Aich is also a flautist, having studied with Ustad Abdur Rahman, Profullo Masid, and his son Montu Masid. From 1973, he began playing flute on Dhaka Radio (Bangladesh), Kolkata Radio (India), Radio Beijing (China), Deutsche Welle (Germany), BBC (UK), and VOA (USA).

• Ekushey Padak (1993){{Cite news |title=Jewel Aich: The world in all its magic |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/75989/jewel-aich-the-world-in-all-its-magic |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190624133156/http://www.newagebd.net:80/article/75989/jewel-aich-the-world-in-all-its-magic |archive-date=2019-06-24 |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=New Age |language=en}}
• Quazi Mahabubullah Gold Medal Award (1989)
• The International Conference trophy of Society of American Magicians Boston Massachusetts 4 July 1981, US
• Best Illusionist Award, 'Channel I' Performance Award Dubai, UAE (2003)
• Magic Federation's Reception held for Jewel Aich (28 December 2017)
• Plaque In Appreciation to Jewel Aich Presented by Mayor Annette Strauss Dallas, US (1988)
• Dhaka Club Ltd. Award for being honored with Ekushey Padak 21 February 2009
• Independence Day Trophy to the Great Magician Jewel Aich, 18 March 2019
• Golden Jubilee Celebration Trophy 1964 – 2014 of Bangladesh television
• Honor to the Great Jewel Aich 1987 Moytree Social Welfare Association
• Sher e Bangla Padak 27 April 1997
• CJFB (The Cultural Journalists Forum of Bangladesh) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008
• Queen's Award for Excellence in Education (2001 and 2007)

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Category:1950s births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Barisal District

Category:Bangladeshi magicians

Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak

Category:Bangladeshi flautists