Psychologist and Hypnotist Pattabhiram Passes Away
Pattabhiram was a role model for the entire field in the two States: Psychologists Association
Hyderabad: Dr B.V. Pattabhiram, noted psychologist, hypnotist, magician and personality development coach, passed away on Monday night following a cardiac arrest. He was 75. He is survived by his wife, Jaya, and son Prashanth.
Recalling his contributions to psychology, Telangana Psychologists Association president Dr M. Ramachander described Pattabhiram as a role model for the profession in both Telugu states. “He rendered yeoman service and authored several books in the field,” he said.
Born in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Pattabhiram was one of 15 children of ‘Rao Saheb’ Bhavaraju Satyanarayana. Despite a crippled leg that caused him to suffer from inferiority in adolescence, he transformed himself into a skilled magician and prolific writer.
He began practising magic during his student years in Kakinada, mentored by magician Ember Rao, and continued honing his craft while employed with the Food Corporation of India in Hyderabad. By the 1970s, he was performing two- to three-hour magic shows that captivated audiences.
In 1984, he made headlines by blindfoldedly riding a scooter from Ravindra Bharathi to Charminar and back — through heavy traffic — creating a new chapter in the science of magic. Through such feats, he worked to dispel superstitions like witchcraft, using magic as a medium for public awareness.
Pattabhiram was a passionate promoter of hypnotism, conducting performances across undivided Andhra Pradesh to demonstrate that many ailments can be cured through hypnotism. With the encouragement of the then chief minister, N.T. Rama Rao, he infused government messaging — such as alcohol prohibition —I into his shows.
He innovatively used magic to communicate with deaf and mute children across linguistic boundaries and, during the devastating Godavari floods, performed to raise aid for displaced victims, reflecting his deep sense of social responsibility.
He has shown in many performances how deaf and dumb children - regardless of language - can be educated through magic. When united Andhra Pradesh suffered a great loss in the Godavari floods, leaving lakhs of people homeless, he showed his humanity by giving several performances to help the flood victims, along with his fellow magicians.
His philosophy was to protect the dignity of magic education by exposing those who perform tricks like creating magic in the name of godmen. He established the Bharat Magic Circle for the first time in the country and brought new respect and distinction to the education of magic among the people.
Pattabhiram is credited with promoting the education of magic as a science on All India Radio and Doordarshan. Academically, he holds an MA in Psychology and earned two doctorates—his first PhD in 1990 on Yoga-Hypnotism, a comparative theoretical study, and a second in 2015. His legacy spans education, psychology, performance and public service, leaving an indelible mark on generations inspired by his work.