Grateful for those who remember me on my birthday: Jewel Aich
Celebrated magician Jewel Aich has long been one of Bangladesh’s most remarkable cultural ambassadors.
Performing across the globe, he has carried the country’s name to international stages, earning admiration and respect along the way. Beyond magic, he is also known as a flautist and, notably, as a valiant freedom fighter. Over the years, he has received the Ekushey Padak along with numerous awards and honours from around the world.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Today marks his birthday. Jewel Aich spoke to The Daily Star, reflecting on love, life, and memories that continue to shape him.
When asked how it feels to be loved by so many, he responds with quiet warmth, “It feels good. I’m happy. Receiving so much love from people—it brings me immense joy.”
Yet, his thoughts quickly turn outward. “In this society, I have everything I need to live a good life. I don’t ask for much,” he says. “But when I see the suffering of ordinary people, the poor, the marginalised, it pains me deeply. I feel I haven’t been able to ease their struggles, and that is something that troubles me.”
He adds, with a sense of humility, “I have no sorrow for myself, only for those who are less fortunate.”
As the conversation unfolds, Aich revisits his past as a freedom fighter during the Liberation War of 1971. His voice grows reflective as he recalls moments that have never left him.
“I am a freedom fighter,” he says. “Sometimes I think back to those days. I remember two fellow fighters who had almost no clothing. They came to fight wearing torn vests. One of them—his vest was so tattered that even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. There are countless such stories.”
Those experiences, he explains, revealed the harsh realities of life for many. “That was when I truly understood the struggles of marginalised people. Despite everything, they came forward, ready to sacrifice their lives in the hope of an independent country. And we were fighting against Pakistan, a force with immense military strength.”
He goes on to share a haunting memory. “At one point, we had to rely on banana stems to quench our thirst. The rivers were filled with floating bodies, so the water was undrinkable. Vultures would come and feed on the corpses—it was unbearable.”
The place, he recalls, was known as Peyara Bagan, spanning parts of Jhalokathi, Swarupkathi, and Banaripara—where he and his fellow fighters spent time during the war.
On a lighter note, when asked who wished him first on his birthday, his face softens. “My daughter,” he says with a smile. “She’s grown up now. She cares for me, even scolds me—just like a mother would.”
Meanwhile, a celebration has been organised in the capital to mark his birthday. Aich, however, remains characteristically modest. “I’m wondering whether too many well-wishers might turn up,” he says with a gentle laugh. “Still, I’m grateful to those who have arranged it—it comes from a place of love.”
Comments