This month Arun write: “Ken De Courcy’s Pareto Effect theory gave me tremendous food for thought. I am going to apply the theory to my working library (containing 600 items including books, bound volumes of magicians, catalogues, lecture notes, bound volumes of instruction sheets for dealers’ items, and so on). Also I shall apply it to my collection of magic tricks from smallest pocket trick to illusion number, gathered up over 45 years. I know I shall find that I have hardly used 20% of my collection! Truly Pareto Effect gave me excellent food for thought. Magical salute to Mr Ken De Courcy! As it is every time, so this time I did greatly enjoy Ian Adair’s chatty type writing about Channing Pollock. I believe if Ian in future published these articles in a book form, it would be well received by the magic world. Then your description of recent shows on your TV is most visual writing. I could instantly visualise some of these shows as I have seen on video. Above all every month historical piece on front cover makes every Billet more valuable for collection – you are simply doing great work as the editor of the magazine. On October 15th I did another birthday party show. Again it was done in the reception area of a local social club, total invitees being 75-80, with 30 children present. Most of the items I presented come from my platform show (Anti Gravity Glasses, Colourings, Die to Flowers and so on), but presented in a bit different way. The children were called to wave magic wand, to say magic words (Hocus Pocus Focus) and magic happened! The last item I presented was a large Leopard Silk. I called a large number of children and made them form a circle clasping their hands around me. They uttered the magic words while I waved the silk and it became full of large white spots. The parents applauded and I got a booking for another birthday party show on the 20th November. (Ed: which should have happened by the time you are reading this.) Since I retired 3 years ago, every month I attend monthly meetings of a number of literary group of people. At these meets I read my magical stories that I regularly write for general literary magazines, also do some magic. Besides that I am now closely attached with a weekly newspaper Alipore Barta (having 5000 circulation). I cover news of these literary groups in that paper. On 3rd October, at a special annual meet of a literary group I was awarded a plaque known as Dr (Doctorate) Samarendra Nath Memorial Award. It is inscribed, ‘Presented to Arun Bonerjee for 2004 for his cultural contributions as magician, magical writer and cultural reporter’. I feel really proud I received an award, “ARUNA BARDHAN MEMORIAL”. I received it for my Bengali poetry writings, cultural reporting for a weekly newspaper and my close-up magic at different monthly meetings of literary groups. The memento is annually given in memory of a departed, renowned, Bengali female poet and story writer I feel really proud of this award as it comes from outside the magic world, representing a part of our intellect society. A photograph was taken on the occasion a copy of which I enclose, hoping that you would kindly print it along with the news in the Billet. (Ed: Congratulations Arun. The photo is below. How do you find time for all this!?) Unfortunately near the end of October I again fell quite ill, having severe indigestional problems, some disorder in body system. I had to be rushed to emergency section of local Govt hospital on 21st October. However, I was not admitted there, but was back home after necessary treatment. Now I am under treatment of my private physician, who is keeping me fit with medicines, thus being able to keep up my magical appointments. Like last Saturday, this evening (13th November) I am also going to attend a literary group’s monthly meet, where, of course, I have to also show some magic! There is a bigger meet on Monday, arranged by the weekly newspaper to which I am attached. Thank you very much for publicising our last convention news in detail in the November Billet. Our next convention dates being 15-16th January 2005. Magician Robbie Dutta, treasurer of the South London Magical Society is coming to our convention. If any of the Bradford Magic Circle members would like to come, they would be made most welcome.”  Arun Bonerjee (left) receiving award at Literary Group’s meet in Kolkata on 3rd October 2004. The Plaque was handed over by Kolkata TV personality, writer DIPIL KRDEB.
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