An interesting situation has been created by the announcement of Mr. Y.B. Chavan, Chief Minister of Bombay, that an institution has been formed to worship Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as the “Tenth Avatar” . This announcement made on Monday last in the Bombay Legislative Assembly, may not be as amusing as it looks.

Because, in our country institutions have been formed which have created innumerable gods and goddesses, around whom Comminalists and monopolists have entrenched themselves and have been exploiting the masses for many, many centuries. There have been attempts to make Gandhiji a god, and statues have been erected near temples; coconuts were broken, camphor was burnt, and ‘Prasadhams’ were distributed. A similar thing was done some years previously, when Mrs. Annie Besant was made into a living god by the Madras monopolists. The object has been exploitation of the simplicity and credulity of the people. Now, we are back again at the beginning of an old game. Of course.

The attempt to make Gandhiji a tenth Avatar failed and failed miserably. The failure was due to the fact that some of the prominent Congress leaders threw his principles to the winds and acted contrary to his teachings. Among them was no less a person than Mr. Nehru himself.

When his leader wanted the Congress to be wound up after the attainment of Independence, on the ground that it had fulfilled its purpose and should give place to new organisations to be formed in the context of the changed order of things, his No.1 ‘Chala’, spiritual heir’, and inheritor of the Gandhian ‘Gadi’ refused. The Congress was the organisation of exploiters, and if it was disbanded, what would happen to the old professionalists? So Gandhiji was dethroned, of course after a certain period elapsed after his death, and in his place Jawahalalji was installed. Now a regular organisation as been set up in the Bombay State called “Shri Jawahar Shakti Mandal” to gather support for deification of one who himself is an atheist of acknowledged eminence. What an irony! Whatever it is, we think attempts may be made to collect funds for the “Tenth Avatar” and gather devotees and disciples to worship him. Sometime later, the Congress President, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, will also be deified. Simultaneously or after a short interval, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, will become a goddess. Another sister of the “Tenth Avatar”, Mrs. Huthee Singh will keep her company. Then there are other Nehrus holding important positions in the Government of India in various departments, who will also be promoted to god-hood.

Then, we will have a regular hierarchy of gods and goddesses, who will all be modern, though some of them will be wearing Gandhi-caps. The Chief Ministers of States like Mr. Chavan of Bombay, may become Archbishops or Jagatgurus of the areas under their respective jurisdictions. It will be a wonderful set up, and a new world will be ushered into being, which will have Five Year Plans to build temples for the new gods and goddesses. India is marching on!

(Sub-Editorial - 19-08-1959)