The black magic trials of JK were a series of sensational legal proceedings that took place in the city of JK during the 20th century. These trials showcased the fear and paranoia surrounding the practice of black magic and its alleged effects on society. The trials began when a local woman accused her neighbor of being a practitioner of black magic, claiming that she had witnessed him performing rituals and casting spells. Word spread quickly, and soon more and more people came forward with similar accusations, leading to a wave of arrests. The accused individuals were subjected to lengthy interrogations and were often forced to confess to their alleged crimes under duress. The courts, driven by a prevailing sense of fear and prejudice, readily accepted these confessions as evidence of guilt, leading to swift convictions.
The courts, driven by a prevailing sense of fear and prejudice, readily accepted these confessions as evidence of guilt, leading to swift convictions. Media coverage of the trials only fueled the hysteria. Newspapers published sensational stories of witches and warlocks casting spells and causing harm to innocent victims.
The Midas Curse
There was pin drop silence for a moment. Then Hosh spoke up.
“He couldn’t even have put them on", he said, "without touching them first. And the moment he touched them, they would have turned into gold.”
“So even if he wanted to wear gloves, he couldn’t possibly have put his hand in them at all, as they are initially flaccid and all crumpled up.”
“It is only when we push our hands into them that our gloves give way and become a good fit around our hands."
"But gold cannot be bent just by flexing our fingers. So our fingers wouldn’t even be able to get in after the glove has been transformed.”
“He could have had a wooden mitten made”, Josh suggested after a moment’s thought, “anything to shield his hands from accidently touching things, including himself.”
“Even if he couldn’t bend his fingers in them, they’d be out of harm’s way. Until he needed them out to make more gold. It would have been much safer.”
“And how would he have washed his potty?” Hosh argued back, “Or scratched himself? No, his gift was cruel. Very cruel to him and to all around him.”
“With this gift, there was no way Midas could have prevented himself from turning everything around him into gold. Nobody around him was safe. Not even his own self.”
“Because you see, he wished that everything he touched to be turned into gold! Not just what he touched with his hands. We can touch with any part of our body. Our whole skin is our sense organ.”
“That means he could never have kissed anyone ever again. Never been able to drink, or eat. Even when he was being fed by others.”
“Midas should have thought before he wished for anything”, Josh hated losing an argument, “We should think before we open our mouths. Right Pa?”
Rosh nodded solemnly at his younger son.
“And Kings are already rich, aren’t they?” Josh continued, “Then why did he want more gold?”
“Cos he was greedy”, Isha was tired after a long day and wanted to go to bed, “He got what he deserved. This story was a lesson to all who are greedy. So, don’t be greedy!”
“That’s certainly one moral of this story that kids have been taught”, said Rosh, “But stories are great capsules of wisdom. The more you dive in them, the more insights you discover.”
“Greed is bad”, Hosh took his father’s cue, “It squeezes the truly valuable things out of life. Only after he lost his daughter and could neither eat nor drink, that Midas learnt what is really valuable in life.”
Rosh nodded. Words of a long forgotten Ghazal, sung by Jagjit Singh, flashed on the canvas of his consciousness. He hummed softly:
ये दौलत भी ले लो, ये शोहरत भी ले लो (Ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo)
भले छीन लो मुझसे मेरी जवानी (bhale chcheen lo mujhse meri jawani)
मगर मुझको लौटा दो बचपन का सावन (magar mujhko lauta do bachpan ka sawan)
वो काग़ज़ कि कश्ती, वो बारिश का पानी (Vo kagaz ki kashti, vo baarish ka pani)
“What do they mean?” asked Josh.
“Take my wealth”, answered Rosh, “take my glory too. It’s ok if you snatch my youth from me. But please return the springs of my childhood, those paper boats, those waters of rain.”
“Life is more precious than money”, Hosh clarified his father’s import to his younger brother, “Only after losing the real things in life, do we understand how precious they are.”
“Only after turning them into gold, did Midas realize what is truly precious. To be able to touch your daughter. Taste an apple. Smell a rose. Gold is pretty, but you can neither smell it, nor taste it.”
“Yea” countered Josh, “But you can buy apples and roses with it. As many as you want. I’d still rather have the power to convert an apple into gold, so I could buy lots more apples with it.”
“And convert your daughter into gold too?” flared Isha, “Human life is worth a lot more than gold. We spend money to keep ourselves healthy. Or haven’t you learnt any lessons?”
“Then why does Pa work so hard for money?” asked Josh, “he’s losing his health for it. Why do they show in movies someone murdering someone else for 10 bucks?”
“Stop arguing”, Isha thundered, “Midas learnt the value of love over gold when he lost his child. The message is that wealth is not the most valuable thing in life. Money can’t buy happiness.”
“People weren’t very smart back then!” Josh retorted. He wasn’t cowed by his mother’s anger. He pressed on.
“He should of wished for gold”, he said, “Instead of wishing to turn everything he touched into gold!”
Rosh stared silently at his younger son and wondered.
‘I stand no chance with him,’ he thought, ‘he won’t learn from us. Like me then, he’ll have to learn at the school of hard knocks. And life ain’t a cheap or lenient teacher.’
‘But he isn’t wrong, is he? What would I have done, if I had Midas’ choice? Was Midas really not smart enough to use his gift?’
‘Could the golden touch have been prevented from becoming the golden tragedy? Could Midas have prevented his boon from becoming the bane of his life?’
‘It may be the answers that provide us solutions and make our lives livable’, he realized, ‘but it is the questions that send us on our quests. Without the power and freedom to ask them, humanity would be nothing.’
“What if Midas wasn’t greedy?” he took a deep breath and suggested, “Life isn’t just black or white. It has many shades of gray. Though not for fools and fanatics, who are always so sure of themselves. But we are neither, are we?”
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“Midas should have thought before he wished for anything”, Josh hated losing an argument, “We should think before we open our mouths. Right Pa?”
The public became increasingly obsessed with the trials, attending court sessions in large numbers and eagerly discussing the latest developments. However, as the trials progressed, doubts began to arise. Some individuals questioned the reliability of the accusers' testimonies, pointing out inconsistencies and discrepancies. Others argued that the confessions had been coerced and were therefore unreliable. The defense lawyers also played a significant role in undermining the credibility of the prosecution's case. They argued that the accused individuals were victims of mass hysteria and scapegoating. They presented evidence showing that many of the accused had no knowledge or involvement in black magic and were being wrongly accused based on rumors and hearsay. Eventually, public opinion began to shift, and doubts about the guilt of the accused became more widespread. The media started questioning the fairness of the trials and the role they played in stoking fear and paranoia. People started to demand a more rational examination of the evidence and a fairer judicial process. As a result, some of the convictions were overturned, and many of the accused were released from prison. However, the damage had already been done. Lives and reputations had been ruined, and the scars of the black magic trials would linger for years. The black magic trials of JK serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria and the need for a fair and impartial judicial process. They highlight the devastating consequences that can occur when fear and prejudice drive legal proceedings. The trials also underscore the importance of critical thinking and skepticism in evaluating evidence and accusations. They serve as a reminder that justice should not be swayed by public opinion but should instead be based on concrete evidence and due process..
Reviews for "Witches, Wizards, and Warlocks: The Black Magic Trials of JK"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The black magic trials of jk". The writing was slow-paced and lacked excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with and care about them. The plot itself seemed to drag on and I found myself losing interest halfway through the book. Overall, I expected more from this novel and it didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Michael - 1 star - "The black magic trials of jk" was a complete waste of time. The story was dull and predictable, with no originality or surprises. The dialogue between the characters felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the narrative. Additionally, the writing style was uninspiring, and the descriptions lacked vividness and imagination. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling or captivating read.
3. Laura - 2 stars - I found "The black magic trials of jk" to be quite underwhelming. The pacing was off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The world-building was minimal, leaving me with a lack of understanding of the magical elements that were introduced. The character development was also weak, as I didn't feel a connection or investment in any of the individuals. Overall, I was left unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Robert - 2.5 stars - "The black magic trials of jk" had an intriguing premise, but it fell short in execution. The writing style was lacking, with repetitive phrases and descriptions that hindered the flow of the story. The plot had potential, but it became convoluted and confusing as the book progressed. The resolution of the conflicts felt rushed and unsatisfying. While there were some interesting ideas, the overall execution left much to be desired.