Popular magician Samrat Shankar today appealed to the government to waive off entertainment tax from magic shows and take steps to keep the art alive.
He also urged the government to check misuse of magic for commercial gains by some unscrupulous people.
"The government should waive off entertainment tax from magic shows...It should initiate some loan schemes to encourage the magic industry, which is on the verge of extinction," Shanker said on the opening of his show in Kangra near here.
He said the art of magic is slowly fading as "not many professionals are left who are pursuing magic as an art. Most of the people in the field learn basic tricks to impress people and often misuse it for commercial gains".
The 63-year-old magician said he is planning to set up an academy to impart training to young people in magic and has requested the Himachal Pradesh government to provide five acre land in Shimla or Manali for the purpose.
"A similar request has been made to the Haryana government," he said.
