‘Happy uncle’ brings clowning, magic to ailing kids

Breaking the common perception of armed forces personnel as being serious or intense, Navy veteran Pravin Tulpule, 63, served for 17 years until one phone call changed the trajectory of his career.

- Pooja Patel

In 2001, the former lieutenant commander received a call from a friend requesting him to dress up as a clown and perform a few tricks for a group of children. “Since I was young, I was known for my sense of humour and had the reputation of being the funny guy; I learnt magic tricks when I was around 13,” says the Kharghar resident, the designated entertainer among his family, friends and at his workplace.