At the time when The Goan went to press Balasaheb Thackeray was fighting for his life and was on life support system. We pray and hope that the man who has been an inspiration to millions in the country will survive and live longer
Balasaheb Thackeray remains unmatched, unparalled.
From being a cartoonist to a firebrand politician,Thackeray's life had been eventful – and popularity that could not besurpassed.
His party, Shiv Sena - inspired from great Maratha warriorChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - today has emerged as a dominant player.
His sense of humour, hard-hitting cartoons and caricatures,orator-part-excellence, admiration for Nazi ditcator Adolf Hitler and his'remote-control' - are just some facets of his life.
He has left a major mark in the politics of Maharashtra andIndia. His knowledge and understanding of regional, national and internationalaffairs in contemporary scenario and his free-and-frank forthright views madehim popular.
Born on January 23, 1926, he is the son of PrabodhankarThackeray, a well-known social reformer and one of the doyens of the SamyuktaMaharashtra Movement.
He started working as a cartoonist for The Free PressJournal in 1950. He also worked for a while with the illustrious cartoonist R KLaxman. While working for the Free Press Journal, he also freelanced as anartist, cartoonist and advertisement designer for multiple organisations,periodicals and companies.
Later, Thackeray decided to quit working and start his owncartoon weekly. Accordingly, he started the weekly titled Marmik - which wasthe first Marathi catoon weekly. The first edition of the Marmik wasinaugurated at the hands of Yashwantrao Chavan, the then chief minister ofMaharashtra - later Deputy Prime Minister.
As he grew popular, Balasaheb established the politicalparty Shiv Sena on 19th June, 1966. The Marathi community became organisedthrough this medium. Shiv Sena’s first public meeting was held at Shivaji Parkin Mumbai on 30th October, 1966. Approximately five lakh people attended thismeet. It was through this meet at the historic Shivaji Park that BalaSahebestablished his relationship with the massive congregation of Marathi people.From that day onwards, citizens, political leaders, journalists and scholarshave a keen ear tuned in towards the messages that Bala Saheb delivers fromtime to time from the podium at Shivaji Park -- particularly, the annualDassera rally.
Initially popular in the urban cities like Mumbai and Thaneand some other urban pockets, Shiv Sena’s popularity soon spread like wild fireinto remote rural villages. The party started capturing important politicalpositions in urban and rural area alike, like Corporator, Mayor and people’srepresentative at all administrative levels. Later, an alliance was formedbetween the Shiv Sena and the BJP by Thackeray and late BJP leader PramodMahajan. Through the concerted campaigning and touring by Shiv Sena’s leaders,the Shiv Sena- BJP alliance came to power in 1995.
Along with his intense pride of Maharashtra and love forMumbai, Balasaheb also staunchly expressed his opinions on Hindutva. Heobjected to the favouritism displayed towards the Muslim community in the hopeof capturing their vote bank, while assuring that he had no bone of contentionagainst the nationalist Muslims who considered India as their country. Hepublicly questioned the efficacy of providing special facilities, which weren’teven provided by the Muslim dominated Arabic countries, to the Muslims in India.It is this staunch, open and unmistakable perspective that justifies his beingcalled a Hindu Hriday Samrat. The proclamation Garv Se Kaho Hum Hindu Hai (Letus Declare Ourselves Hindu with pride) was given true meaning in Maharashtrathrough the efforts of the Shiv Sena.
Balasaheb ideated many programmes and projects which havebeen successfully implemented like the Zunka-Bhakar Centre scheme, housing forthe slum dwellers, the Mumbai – Pune Expressway, flyovers in Mumbai, revertingof the name Bombay to Mumbai. Balasaheb never indulged in caste discriminationin politics. He also gave wings to the dreams of youth, which is why Marathiyouth of different castes were able to get and continue to get powerfulpositions. This is the major difference between the Shiv Sena and otherpolitical parties, and BalaSaheb and other political leaders.
