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)