THE NINE-YEAR ITCH!

It must be the climate. With the spirit of Holi in the air, it is natural that young men's fancies should turn to love. Add the holierthanthou political climate of India that was Bharat, and one's fancies may also occasionally turn to God! Politicians well versed in the art of making obeisance to mundane tin gods for such ungodly purposes as getting a ticket for Parliament and who are ever ready to genuflect before the altar of power are thought to be the least competent to speak of things spiritual. When the politician is also a vaunted socialist who will not recognise even God if he is not pink, and who establishes his claim to distinction by openly pursuing many material gods, his acquaintance with the Spirit is even more doubtful. Neither socialism nor politics need of course stand in the way of anyone making his peace with his Maker, but when a socialist insists, as an M.P. from Assam did other day, that he will not bow to anyone other than his God, both his socialism and politics must become suspect. A socialist who does not bow to socialism must be reactionary-may be even a Communist! As to bowing before men he must be a very upright person indeed who does not bend before his spouse, so upright that his fellows must wonder if he is not in need of an examination. And when, after having bowed to a Chair without a thought for nine years, one suddenly rears up to see God, it must be fairly clear that this is a new acquaintance. Or perhaps is it the nine year itch?

March 4, 1961