weird swig error when trying to import pylab from matplotlib 0.87.7

I am getting this weird message. This is a linux machine. the matplotlib version 0.87.7

from pylab import *

Traceback (most recent call last):

File “”, line 1, in ?

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/pylab.py”, line 1, in ?

from matplotlib.pylab import *

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/matplotlib/pylab.py”, line 201, in ?

from axes import Axes, PolarAxes

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/matplotlib/axes.py”, line 15, in ?

from axis import XAxis, YAxis

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/matplotlib/axis.py”, line 16, in ?

from lines import Line2D, TICKLEFT, TICKRIGHT, TICKUP, TICKDOWN

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/matplotlib/lines.py”, line 11, in ?

import matplotlib.agg as agg

File “/foo/python/site-packages/lib/python/matplotlib/agg.py”, line 106, in ?

pi = cvar.pi

AttributeError: ‘swigvarlink’ object has no attribute ‘pi’

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