BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL

Go anywhere in India these days and what do you see? Everyone has black hair. And most of it is dyed black. People anywhere from the 30's to geriatricians in their 60's -70's-80's and even 90's go around with luscious dark black hair - even if part of their heads is bald.

And even if sagging skin, double chins, pulpy faces, bags under the eyes, and a listless expression in the eyes betray their age.

Surely Indians must be the handsomest of men and women in the world to be so concerned for their appearance, to retain that youthful dashing romantic look - even in their late 60's and 70's.

The people who go in for this are naturally movie stars and politicians. Apart from the very rare white haired ones who look glorious in white hair, the landscape is very well plastered with black.

Some even prefer a combined look - black hair and white beards, or is it black beards and white hair?

Maybe it helps them stay young, helps the actors act better with heroines one third their age, and makes the politicians attract more dark haired voters, and also helps them speak louder at election time.

It is a boon for the retired folk seeking fresh jobs to begin life anew.

They can pass off for youngsters in the queue for jobs.

Everyone admits it helps him or her perform better, remain more active and healthy and retain their status in society.

It is generally the relatively rich who can afford the expensive hair dyes of Garnier and Loreal, for the lower middle class there is the stigma of using henna, or mehndi, which gives their hair a brilliant orange tinge and also appears to get rid of much of the hair. I have yet to meet a person with luscious hair on mehndi. The veteran black hair dye users are the ones who retain this luxury - maybe the chemicals arent that bad after all.

The only one who dont use hair dyes in India are the teenagers and young folk, who say, "What the heck! We already KNOW we are young!" And many amongst them are beginning to have premature white hair either from sinus problems or just the pressures of study and work.

It must be wonderful for those who use hair dyes in old age to know that when they leave the world they will die young. Maybe heaven has a preference for black hair as well - first come first served.