Kuda Bux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kuda Bux
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| Born | 17 February 1905 |
| Died | 5 February 1981 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Magician |
Kuda Bux (born Khudah Bukhsh, February 17, 1905 – February 5, 1981) was an amazing Pakistani magician and firewalker. He was known for his incredible ability to "see" even when completely blindfolded and for walking across burning hot coals without getting hurt.
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Amazing Tricks: Seeing Without Eyes
One of Kuda Bux's most famous acts involved covering his eyes in a very special way. First, he would place soft dough balls over his eyes. Then, he would put on a blindfold, and finally, wrap his whole head in strips of cloth. Even with all this, he could still "see"!
People were amazed by his skills. While blindfolded, Kuda Bux could do many tricky things:
- He could read the dates on coins held in someone's hand.
- He could read tiny print from a magazine.
- He even threaded a needle while inside a wine barrel!
- He could copy words he had never seen before.
- He once shot a can off children's heads using a pellet gun!
His incredible ability to see while blindfolded even inspired the famous British author Roald Dahl. Dahl wrote a short story called "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" about a man who learned to do similar amazing feats.
Kuda Bux also starred in a TV series in 1950 called Kuda Bux, Hindu Mystic. It showed off his unique talents to many people.
Walking on Fire: A Fiery Feat
Kuda Bux was also famous for his daring firewalking demonstrations. He would walk across pits of burning hot coals, and his feet would remain unharmed!
Firewalking in New York City
On August 2, 1938, Kuda Bux performed a firewalk at NBC Radio City Studios in Manhattan, New York. A deep hole was dug in the parking lot, and it was filled with burning logs and charcoal. Kuda Bux walked back and forth through the fiery pit twice. The famous reporter Robert Ripley, known for "Ripley's Believe It or Not!", said that Kuda Bux's feet were "not even warm" after the walk. There is even old newsreel footage of this event!
Scientific Tests of Firewalking
In 1935, Kuda Bux showed off his firewalking skills to a group of scientists from the University of London Council for Psychical Research and many news reporters. He walked across a 12-foot pit filled with burning coals without any injuries.
Before and after his walk, scientists carefully checked his feet. They wanted to make sure he wasn't using any special creams or chemicals to protect himself. It was a very windy day, and the surface of the fire was measured at about 806 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius). The hottest part of the fire was an incredible 2,552 degrees Fahrenheit (1,400 degrees Celsius), which is hot enough to melt steel!
After his first walk, a cameraman asked for a retake because he had messed up some photos. Kuda Bux bravely repeated the firewalk, and again, his feet were perfectly fine.
Many people in the Western world were amazed by his firewalking in the 1930s. Some people, like the mentalist Joseph Dunninger, suggested that walking quickly on the coals, which cool down fast, could explain how he did it.
About Kuda Bux's Life
Khudah Bukhsh was born in 1905 in Akhnur, a place in Kashmir. His family was Kashmiri, and his father worked as a railway ticket inspector. Later in his life, Kuda Bux became a citizen of Pakistan.
When he was just thirteen years old, Kuda Bux began to learn magic from a famous magician named Professor Moor. He later met a yogi (a person who practices yoga and meditation) named Banerjee in Hardwar. It was Banerjee who taught him the secrets of firewalking and how to "see" without his eyes.
In the mid-1930s, Kuda Bux moved to the United States to continue his magic career. He was also known by other names, like DareDevil or The Man Who Can See Without His Eyes. Sadly, in his later years, he lost his eyesight due to a condition called glaucoma. Kuda Bux passed away peacefully in his sleep in 1981, at the age of 75.
