Dahisar BALA SAHEB THACKERAY SOCIAL VISIT - 8 visits - May 24
Dahisar BALA SAHEB THACKERAY SOCIAL VISIT. SHIV SENA PRAMUKH SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY VISITED AT DR. PRAVIN BHATIA -PURECHA'S HOME ON 25TH APRIL 1999. ...wikimapia.org/608888/ - 31k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
BALA SAHEB KESHAV THACKERAY MY BEST FRIEND
Bal Keshav Thackeray (Marathi: बाळ केशव ठाकरे) (born January 23, 1926), popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray, is the founder and chief of the Shiv Sena, a Hindu nationalist, Marathi ethnocentric and populist party active mainly in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. He is also referred to as Hindu Hridaysamrat (lit. "Ruler of Hindu hearts") and Sher (Tiger).
Contents[hide]
1 Early life and career
2 Controversy
2.1 Admiration of Hitler
2.2 Views on Muslims
2.3 Views on President Kalam
3 Rift in party
4 Valentine's Day protests
5 Cultural references
6 References
7 External links
//
[edit] Early life and career
Thackeray was born to Keshav Sitaram Thackeray (also known as Prabodhankar Thackeray because of his articles in his fortnightly magazine named Prabodhan) in a lower-middle class Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu family. Keshav Thackeray was a progressive social activist and writer who was against caste biases and who supported women's rights. He was also a prominent supporter of the Marathi cause and played a key role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalwal (literally, United Maharashtra Movement) in the 1950s to form the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra along with Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay) as its capital.
Bal Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in the 1950s, and was a contemporary of R. K. Laxman during his early years. His cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times. In 1960, he launched a cartoon weekly Marmik with his brother. He used it to campaign against the growing influence of non-Marathi people in Bombay.
He formed the Shiv Sena on June 19th, 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the natives of the state of Maharashtra (called Maharashtrians)[1]. The early objective of the Shiv Sena was to ensure job security for Maharashtrians against immigrants from Southern India. Soon afterwards, from 1970 onwards, it dumped this stance and became more focussed on Hindutva and nationalism.
Politically, the Shiv Sena was anti-Communist, and wrested control of major trade unions in Mumbai from the Communist Party of India. It later allied itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP-Shiv Sena combine won the 1995 Maharashtra State Assembly elections and came to power. During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Bal Thackeray was nicknamed "remote control" since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind-the-scenes.
Thackeray has claimed that the Shiv Sena has helped the Marathi manoos (the Marathi commoner) in Mumbai,[2] especially in the public sector.[3] Opposition leftist parties allege that the Shiv Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'[4] In addition, Thackeray played a central role in the emancipation of 500,000 slum dwellers in the Dharavi area of Mumbai, the largest slum in Asia.[5] However, the state's policy of giving free houses to slum dwellers has been subject to controversy by the opposing leftist parties ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago. [1] [6]
Thackeray has also led the Shiv Sena to an active role in trying to improve infrastructure in Maharashtra, particularly in the state capital Mumbai, which also serves as the financial capital of the country.
In addition to improvements in transportation infrastructure, Thackeray has supported initiatives against proprietary technologies such as the "Conditional Access System" for television networks, which would have led to cable companies charging more for channels.[7] He has also questioned the government’s procedure of divesting equity in oil refining and marketing majors, effectively "selling" profitable oil companies out.[8]
[edit] Controversy
Thackeray is very vocal in his opposition to people who migrate to Mumbai, to non-Hindus (especially Muslims), and to Bengali Muslims he believes are Bangladeshis. In the late 1970s, as part of his "Maharashtra is for Maharashtrians" campaign, Thackeray threatened migrants from South India with harm unless they left Mumbai.
In 2002, Thackeray issued a call to form Hindu suicide squads to counter alleged Muslim violence:
If such suicide squads are formed only then can we take on perpetrators of mindless violence.[9]
In reaction to Thackeray’s call to form Hindu suicide squads against Muslims, Maharashtra government registered a case against him for inciting enmity between different groups. [10]
Asia Times further reported on Thackeray’s rhetoric:
Thackeray called on Hindus to form suicide squads "to take the Muslims head on". "Trouble-making Muslims should be wiped out from the country ... kick out the four crore [40 million] Bangladeshi Muslims and then the country will be secure," the Shiv Sena leader said. Urging Hindus to start calling India "Hindu rashtra" (Hindu nation), he maintained that only "our religion [Hinduism] is to be honored here" and then "we will look after other religions".[11]
At least two organizations founded and managed by the retired Indian Army officers namely Lt Col (retired) Jayant Rao Chitale and Lt Ge. P.N. Hoon (former commander-in-chief of the Western Command), answered Bal Thackeray’s call to set up the Suicide Squads in India. Lt Gen. Hoon claimed, Thackeray instructed him to set up the training camps.[12]
Thackeray continues to publish inflammatory editorials in his party's newsletter, Samna (Confrontation).
[edit] Admiration of Hitler
Thackeray has attracted controversy for his praise of Adolf Hitler.
He was quoted by Asiaweek as saying:
I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common...What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand." [2]
In an interview with the Indian Express that was printed on January 29, 2007, Thackeray remarked,
Hitler did very cruel and ugly things. But he was an artist, I love him (for that). He had the power to carry the whole nation, the mob with him. You have to think what magic he had. He was a miracle...The killing of Jews was wrong. But the good part about Hitler was that he was an artist. He was a daredevil. He had good qualities and bad. I may also have good qualities and bad ones. [3]
His opponents have used these remarks against him and accused him of a fascist ideology. Thackeray's supporters, such as right-wing columnist Varsha Bhosle, have defended Thackeray's position as necessary in what they claim is an atmosphere of religious extremism against Hindus. In defense of a statement by Thackeray that "If the Muslims of India behave as the Jews in Germany did, they will deserve the same treatment," Bhosle writes:
Germany's Jews...? What ELSE is required for Hindus to shake off the stupor and consider protecting our civilisation and culture? If telling it like it is makes one a Nazi, I say: Fine, better that than the spineless, deaf, dumb, numb and blind state exalted as Nehruvian Secularism. I wouldn't even spit on it.[13]
In an article appearing in Newindpress.com on August 20, 2007, Thackeray is quoted as wanting to be a dictator and the Hitler of whole India:
He is on record as having told the Navakal: ‘‘Yes, I am a dictator. It is a Hitler that is needed in India today.’’ He was once asked in a television programme whether he wanted to be Hitler of Bombay? ‘‘Do not underestimate me,’’ he is reported to have retorted. ‘‘I am (the Hitler) of the whole of Maharashtra and want to be of whole of India.’’ The Hitler question was put to him twelve years ago in September 1996 by the Outlook magazine as well during an interview. ‘‘Once you’d expressed admiration for certain facets of Hitler.’’ ‘Comparison was inevitable,’ the interviewer prompted. Thackaray said: ‘‘I have not sent anybody to the gas chamber. If I’d been like that, you wouldn’t have dared to come and interview me.’’[14]
[edit] Views on Muslims
Thackeray's views have typically been highly anti-Muslim, usually attacking them and occasionally sympathizing with them. His party is viewed as being anti-Muslim, though Shiv Sainiks officially deny this accusation. [4] When explaining his views on Hindutva, he has conflated Islam with violence and has called for Hindus to "fight terrorism and fight Islam".[15] In an interview in Suketu Mehta's book 'Maximum City', he advocates the hanging of Indian Muslims and mass expulsion of Muslim migrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
In the 1980's he had stated that:
"They [Muslims] were spreading like a cancer and should be operated on like a cancer. The...country should be saved from the Muslims and the police should support them [Hindu Maha Sangh] in their struggle just like the police in Punjab were sympathetic to the Khalistanis." [16]
Bal Thackeray criticized and challenged Indian Muslims through his party newspaper, Sāmna, around the time the 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by members of the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the northern town of Ayodhya, on December 6, 1992. Hindus believe that the Babri Mosque was built on the demolished ruins of a Hindu temple in the 16th century, and consider it to be the Ram Janmabhoomi (birthplace of the Hindu God Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, one of the Trimurti of the Hindu Pantheon).
The Justice Srikrishna Commission of Enquiry, which investigated the ensuing communal riots in Mumbai, indicted Thackeray for sparking anti-Muslim violence, which led to more than 1,000 deaths in several ensuing riots, many by having kerosene poured on their bodies while alive and then being burned to death. The death toll during the actual act of the demolition of the Mosque was zero. The Srikrishna Commission found that Thackeray was personally responsible, not only for inciting the mobs through his incendiary speeches, but also directly coordinating the movement of the rioters[citation needed]. At the time, Thackeray made allegations that the Commission was "biased" and "anti-Hindu". His views were not supported outside of the Shiv Sena party[17].
In a deposition before the Srikrishna Commission a witness alleged Thackeray coordinated much of the January 1993 Mumbai carnage. Yuvraj Mohite claimed, “Balasaheb was sitting and he was getting calls from various places. He would ask what was happening at that particular place (from where he got the call) and then he would say, 'Kill them. Send them to Allah'”. Mohite, additionally told the commission, that, “Thackeray ordered:
That not one Muslim be left alive to stand in the witness box.
Asked his men to send the additional police commissioner, A A Khan, to his Allah.
Ordered his men to retaliate to the Hindu killings in Jogeshwari.”
Later, in February 1993 Thackeray said, "I am proud of what my boys have done. We had to retaliate and we did. If it was not for us, no one would have controlled the Muslims." [18]
However, in an interview in 1998, he claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the Babri Mosque or Ram Janmabhoomi issue [19], saying:
"We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us."[19]
He has since made more inflammatory statements regarding Muslims, and reiterated his desire for Hindus to unite across linguistic barriers and to see "a Hindustan for Hindus" and to "bring Islam to this country down to its knees". [20]
However, he has also expressed admiration for Muslims in Mumbai in the wake of the July 2006 Bombay train bombings perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists. In response to threats made by the leader of the Samajwadi Party that accusations of terrorism directed at Indian Muslims would bring about communal strife, Thackeray said that the unity of Mumbaikars (residents of Mumbai) in the wake of the terrorist attacks was "a slap to fanatics of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi" and that Thackeray "salute(s) those Muslims who participated in the two minutes' silence on July 18 to mourn the blast victims".[21]
[edit] Views on President Kalam
Thackeray has been a vocal critic of the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. Thackeray said Kalam was a leading scientist of the country but had "lost the dignity of the post" after he became President. He has criticized Kalam's indecisiveness regarding the conviction of the terrorist Mohammad Afzal, who has been sentenced to death following his conviction for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Thackeray criticizes the fact that a convicted terrorist's appeal for clemency is even being considered by Kalam.[15]
"Afzal was sentenced to death by the highest court in this country in October and yet the file has been sitting on the President's table for the past four months. I have not said anything wrong about Kalam. We all have supported him to become President. Afzal's clemency letter is still lying with the President. Give me another example where the President has not taken decision on a clemency petition for four months." [15]
His views on Kalam have been heavily criticized by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi as inappropriate and "violative of decorum".[22]
[edit] Rift in party
An increase in intra-party rivalry between Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, and nephew Raj Thackeray led to divisions within the Shiv Sena. In addition to this, several old hands such as hard-line leader Narayan Rane were expelled or left the Sena.
On December 18, 2005, Raj Thackeray announced his resignation as a primary member of the Shiv Sena. On March 19, 2006, Raj announced the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
[edit] Valentine's Day protests
Boycotting shops and restaurants that allow young people to celebrate the "western" holiday of Valentine's Day, interpreted as bestial, indecent and un-Bharatiya (un-Indian) by Thackeray, is one of his recent actions. These boycotts have often culminated in violence and the destruction of said shops. On February 14, 2006, Bal Thackeray condemned and apologized for the violent attacks of Shiv Sena members upon a private Valentine's Day celebration in Mumbai. "It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice," Thackeray said, "I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed."[5] Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, although they may support an "Indian alternative".[6]
[edit] Cultural references
Thackery is satirized in Salman Rushdie's novel The Moor's Last Sigh as "Raman Fielding". Suketu Mehta interviews Thackeray in his critically acclaimed, Pulitzer-nominated, non-fiction 2004 book Maximum City.
[edit] References
^ Know your party: Shiv Sena - Rediff
^ "On the wrong track". The Hindu. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
^ "Sena fate: From roar to meow". The Times of India. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
^ "Diversionary tactics". The Hindu Frontline Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.
^ Rediff News
^ Dharavi slum will be economic hub: Joshi
^ Address loopholes in CAS: Shiv Sena,The Hindu Business Line
^ Shiv Sena’s views,The Tribune
^ "Thackeray for Hindu suicide squads", Times of India. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "Case filed against Thackeray for urging anti-terror suicide-squads", ExpressIndia.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "India: The politics of passion", Asia Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "Sena land sires suicide camps", The Telegraph. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
^ In rod we trust, Varsha Bhosle
^ "Where Hitler meets Thackeray", Newindpress.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
^ a b c Thackeray lashes out at Prez again,ibnlive
^ Bal Thackeray in India Today, June 15, 1984.
^ The Shiv Sena indicted,The Hindu
^ "Balasaheb commanded rioters: witness", IBN Live. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ a b The Rediff Election Interview/Bal Thackeray,Rediff.com
^ http://www.expressindia.com/election/fullestory.php?type=ei&content_id=80435 Hindustan of Hindus my dream: Thackeray, expressindia.com
^ Mumbai's unity a slap to fanatics: Thackeray-India-The Times of India
^ Dasmunsi flays Thackeray's comments on Kalam-The Times of India
Contents[hide]
1 Early life and career
2 Controversy
2.1 Admiration of Hitler
2.2 Views on Muslims
2.3 Views on President Kalam
3 Rift in party
4 Valentine's Day protests
5 Cultural references
6 References
7 External links
//
[edit] Early life and career
Thackeray was born to Keshav Sitaram Thackeray (also known as Prabodhankar Thackeray because of his articles in his fortnightly magazine named Prabodhan) in a lower-middle class Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu family. Keshav Thackeray was a progressive social activist and writer who was against caste biases and who supported women's rights. He was also a prominent supporter of the Marathi cause and played a key role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalwal (literally, United Maharashtra Movement) in the 1950s to form the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra along with Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay) as its capital.
Bal Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in the 1950s, and was a contemporary of R. K. Laxman during his early years. His cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times. In 1960, he launched a cartoon weekly Marmik with his brother. He used it to campaign against the growing influence of non-Marathi people in Bombay.
He formed the Shiv Sena on June 19th, 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the natives of the state of Maharashtra (called Maharashtrians)[1]. The early objective of the Shiv Sena was to ensure job security for Maharashtrians against immigrants from Southern India. Soon afterwards, from 1970 onwards, it dumped this stance and became more focussed on Hindutva and nationalism.
Politically, the Shiv Sena was anti-Communist, and wrested control of major trade unions in Mumbai from the Communist Party of India. It later allied itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP-Shiv Sena combine won the 1995 Maharashtra State Assembly elections and came to power. During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Bal Thackeray was nicknamed "remote control" since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind-the-scenes.
Thackeray has claimed that the Shiv Sena has helped the Marathi manoos (the Marathi commoner) in Mumbai,[2] especially in the public sector.[3] Opposition leftist parties allege that the Shiv Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'[4] In addition, Thackeray played a central role in the emancipation of 500,000 slum dwellers in the Dharavi area of Mumbai, the largest slum in Asia.[5] However, the state's policy of giving free houses to slum dwellers has been subject to controversy by the opposing leftist parties ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago. [1] [6]
Thackeray has also led the Shiv Sena to an active role in trying to improve infrastructure in Maharashtra, particularly in the state capital Mumbai, which also serves as the financial capital of the country.
In addition to improvements in transportation infrastructure, Thackeray has supported initiatives against proprietary technologies such as the "Conditional Access System" for television networks, which would have led to cable companies charging more for channels.[7] He has also questioned the government’s procedure of divesting equity in oil refining and marketing majors, effectively "selling" profitable oil companies out.[8]
[edit] Controversy
Thackeray is very vocal in his opposition to people who migrate to Mumbai, to non-Hindus (especially Muslims), and to Bengali Muslims he believes are Bangladeshis. In the late 1970s, as part of his "Maharashtra is for Maharashtrians" campaign, Thackeray threatened migrants from South India with harm unless they left Mumbai.
In 2002, Thackeray issued a call to form Hindu suicide squads to counter alleged Muslim violence:
If such suicide squads are formed only then can we take on perpetrators of mindless violence.[9]
In reaction to Thackeray’s call to form Hindu suicide squads against Muslims, Maharashtra government registered a case against him for inciting enmity between different groups. [10]
Asia Times further reported on Thackeray’s rhetoric:
Thackeray called on Hindus to form suicide squads "to take the Muslims head on". "Trouble-making Muslims should be wiped out from the country ... kick out the four crore [40 million] Bangladeshi Muslims and then the country will be secure," the Shiv Sena leader said. Urging Hindus to start calling India "Hindu rashtra" (Hindu nation), he maintained that only "our religion [Hinduism] is to be honored here" and then "we will look after other religions".[11]
At least two organizations founded and managed by the retired Indian Army officers namely Lt Col (retired) Jayant Rao Chitale and Lt Ge. P.N. Hoon (former commander-in-chief of the Western Command), answered Bal Thackeray’s call to set up the Suicide Squads in India. Lt Gen. Hoon claimed, Thackeray instructed him to set up the training camps.[12]
Thackeray continues to publish inflammatory editorials in his party's newsletter, Samna (Confrontation).
[edit] Admiration of Hitler
Thackeray has attracted controversy for his praise of Adolf Hitler.
He was quoted by Asiaweek as saying:
I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common...What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand." [2]
In an interview with the Indian Express that was printed on January 29, 2007, Thackeray remarked,
Hitler did very cruel and ugly things. But he was an artist, I love him (for that). He had the power to carry the whole nation, the mob with him. You have to think what magic he had. He was a miracle...The killing of Jews was wrong. But the good part about Hitler was that he was an artist. He was a daredevil. He had good qualities and bad. I may also have good qualities and bad ones. [3]
His opponents have used these remarks against him and accused him of a fascist ideology. Thackeray's supporters, such as right-wing columnist Varsha Bhosle, have defended Thackeray's position as necessary in what they claim is an atmosphere of religious extremism against Hindus. In defense of a statement by Thackeray that "If the Muslims of India behave as the Jews in Germany did, they will deserve the same treatment," Bhosle writes:
Germany's Jews...? What ELSE is required for Hindus to shake off the stupor and consider protecting our civilisation and culture? If telling it like it is makes one a Nazi, I say: Fine, better that than the spineless, deaf, dumb, numb and blind state exalted as Nehruvian Secularism. I wouldn't even spit on it.[13]
In an article appearing in Newindpress.com on August 20, 2007, Thackeray is quoted as wanting to be a dictator and the Hitler of whole India:
He is on record as having told the Navakal: ‘‘Yes, I am a dictator. It is a Hitler that is needed in India today.’’ He was once asked in a television programme whether he wanted to be Hitler of Bombay? ‘‘Do not underestimate me,’’ he is reported to have retorted. ‘‘I am (the Hitler) of the whole of Maharashtra and want to be of whole of India.’’ The Hitler question was put to him twelve years ago in September 1996 by the Outlook magazine as well during an interview. ‘‘Once you’d expressed admiration for certain facets of Hitler.’’ ‘Comparison was inevitable,’ the interviewer prompted. Thackaray said: ‘‘I have not sent anybody to the gas chamber. If I’d been like that, you wouldn’t have dared to come and interview me.’’[14]
[edit] Views on Muslims
Thackeray's views have typically been highly anti-Muslim, usually attacking them and occasionally sympathizing with them. His party is viewed as being anti-Muslim, though Shiv Sainiks officially deny this accusation. [4] When explaining his views on Hindutva, he has conflated Islam with violence and has called for Hindus to "fight terrorism and fight Islam".[15] In an interview in Suketu Mehta's book 'Maximum City', he advocates the hanging of Indian Muslims and mass expulsion of Muslim migrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
In the 1980's he had stated that:
"They [Muslims] were spreading like a cancer and should be operated on like a cancer. The...country should be saved from the Muslims and the police should support them [Hindu Maha Sangh] in their struggle just like the police in Punjab were sympathetic to the Khalistanis." [16]
Bal Thackeray criticized and challenged Indian Muslims through his party newspaper, Sāmna, around the time the 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by members of the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the northern town of Ayodhya, on December 6, 1992. Hindus believe that the Babri Mosque was built on the demolished ruins of a Hindu temple in the 16th century, and consider it to be the Ram Janmabhoomi (birthplace of the Hindu God Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, one of the Trimurti of the Hindu Pantheon).
The Justice Srikrishna Commission of Enquiry, which investigated the ensuing communal riots in Mumbai, indicted Thackeray for sparking anti-Muslim violence, which led to more than 1,000 deaths in several ensuing riots, many by having kerosene poured on their bodies while alive and then being burned to death. The death toll during the actual act of the demolition of the Mosque was zero. The Srikrishna Commission found that Thackeray was personally responsible, not only for inciting the mobs through his incendiary speeches, but also directly coordinating the movement of the rioters[citation needed]. At the time, Thackeray made allegations that the Commission was "biased" and "anti-Hindu". His views were not supported outside of the Shiv Sena party[17].
In a deposition before the Srikrishna Commission a witness alleged Thackeray coordinated much of the January 1993 Mumbai carnage. Yuvraj Mohite claimed, “Balasaheb was sitting and he was getting calls from various places. He would ask what was happening at that particular place (from where he got the call) and then he would say, 'Kill them. Send them to Allah'”. Mohite, additionally told the commission, that, “Thackeray ordered:
That not one Muslim be left alive to stand in the witness box.
Asked his men to send the additional police commissioner, A A Khan, to his Allah.
Ordered his men to retaliate to the Hindu killings in Jogeshwari.”
Later, in February 1993 Thackeray said, "I am proud of what my boys have done. We had to retaliate and we did. If it was not for us, no one would have controlled the Muslims." [18]
However, in an interview in 1998, he claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the Babri Mosque or Ram Janmabhoomi issue [19], saying:
"We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us."[19]
He has since made more inflammatory statements regarding Muslims, and reiterated his desire for Hindus to unite across linguistic barriers and to see "a Hindustan for Hindus" and to "bring Islam to this country down to its knees". [20]
However, he has also expressed admiration for Muslims in Mumbai in the wake of the July 2006 Bombay train bombings perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists. In response to threats made by the leader of the Samajwadi Party that accusations of terrorism directed at Indian Muslims would bring about communal strife, Thackeray said that the unity of Mumbaikars (residents of Mumbai) in the wake of the terrorist attacks was "a slap to fanatics of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi" and that Thackeray "salute(s) those Muslims who participated in the two minutes' silence on July 18 to mourn the blast victims".[21]
[edit] Views on President Kalam
Thackeray has been a vocal critic of the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. Thackeray said Kalam was a leading scientist of the country but had "lost the dignity of the post" after he became President. He has criticized Kalam's indecisiveness regarding the conviction of the terrorist Mohammad Afzal, who has been sentenced to death following his conviction for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Thackeray criticizes the fact that a convicted terrorist's appeal for clemency is even being considered by Kalam.[15]
"Afzal was sentenced to death by the highest court in this country in October and yet the file has been sitting on the President's table for the past four months. I have not said anything wrong about Kalam. We all have supported him to become President. Afzal's clemency letter is still lying with the President. Give me another example where the President has not taken decision on a clemency petition for four months." [15]
His views on Kalam have been heavily criticized by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi as inappropriate and "violative of decorum".[22]
[edit] Rift in party
An increase in intra-party rivalry between Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, and nephew Raj Thackeray led to divisions within the Shiv Sena. In addition to this, several old hands such as hard-line leader Narayan Rane were expelled or left the Sena.
On December 18, 2005, Raj Thackeray announced his resignation as a primary member of the Shiv Sena. On March 19, 2006, Raj announced the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
[edit] Valentine's Day protests
Boycotting shops and restaurants that allow young people to celebrate the "western" holiday of Valentine's Day, interpreted as bestial, indecent and un-Bharatiya (un-Indian) by Thackeray, is one of his recent actions. These boycotts have often culminated in violence and the destruction of said shops. On February 14, 2006, Bal Thackeray condemned and apologized for the violent attacks of Shiv Sena members upon a private Valentine's Day celebration in Mumbai. "It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice," Thackeray said, "I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed."[5] Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, although they may support an "Indian alternative".[6]
[edit] Cultural references
Thackery is satirized in Salman Rushdie's novel The Moor's Last Sigh as "Raman Fielding". Suketu Mehta interviews Thackeray in his critically acclaimed, Pulitzer-nominated, non-fiction 2004 book Maximum City.
[edit] References
^ Know your party: Shiv Sena - Rediff
^ "On the wrong track". The Hindu. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
^ "Sena fate: From roar to meow". The Times of India. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
^ "Diversionary tactics". The Hindu Frontline Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.
^ Rediff News
^ Dharavi slum will be economic hub: Joshi
^ Address loopholes in CAS: Shiv Sena,The Hindu Business Line
^ Shiv Sena’s views,The Tribune
^ "Thackeray for Hindu suicide squads", Times of India. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "Case filed against Thackeray for urging anti-terror suicide-squads", ExpressIndia.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "India: The politics of passion", Asia Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ "Sena land sires suicide camps", The Telegraph. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
^ In rod we trust, Varsha Bhosle
^ "Where Hitler meets Thackeray", Newindpress.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
^ a b c Thackeray lashes out at Prez again,ibnlive
^ Bal Thackeray in India Today, June 15, 1984.
^ The Shiv Sena indicted,The Hindu
^ "Balasaheb commanded rioters: witness", IBN Live. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
^ a b The Rediff Election Interview/Bal Thackeray,Rediff.com
^ http://www.expressindia.com/election/fullestory.php?type=ei&content_id=80435 Hindustan of Hindus my dream: Thackeray, expressindia.com
^ Mumbai's unity a slap to fanatics: Thackeray-India-The Times of India
^ Dasmunsi flays Thackeray's comments on Kalam-The Times of India
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
BALA SAHEB: KING OF MAHARASTRA
The Nation of Our DreamsBalasaheb Thackeray's vision(Mr. Bal Thackeray, writing in a sponsored feature in the Indian Express, Mumbai onOctober 11, 1998)This is a Hindu nation. Here it is. Just as it was. And just as itwill be. Always, and forever....After 300 long years, the saffron flies again over Maharashtra. Thesaffron. The symbol of sacrifice. Prepare to welcome the saffron.The march has begun, never to stop. Shiv Sainiks will carry the flagto the East, to the West, to the North and to the South. Everywhere.We will cross the Sahyadris. And we will breach the Himalayas. We willpaint the ramparts of the Red Fort in saffron. We must fulfilChhatrapati Maharaj's dram. We must build the Hindustan of our dreams.It is a historic task we have set out to accomplish. So help us God.Everywhere in the country people are turning to the Shiv Sena.Anywhere you find a sense of insecurity among the Hindus, you will alsofind the Shiv Sena. For the endangered and the insecure, for thedeprived and the depraved (sic), the Shiv Sena is the only hope. TheShiv Sena can never betray the trust reposed by the hopeless millions.The Shiv Sena is not just a political party. It is a tree growinghuge,striking its roots into the soil of this land, spreading its vastbranches to protect and preserve Hindustan....It is our Hindustan we have to build. We have to create a Hindustanfor Hindus. We have to create a country where Hindus are respected.The country where Hindutva will shine in all its glory. A country wherethe anti-Hindu shall bow before the will of the Hindu. That is thecountry we have to build.....Look at our country. Our laws. Our rules. A whole long list ofdon'ts meant only for Hindus. And who are the ones who are empowered?The Mussalmans.How long are we to tolerate this? How long are we to stand by andwatch these antics in the name of religion? How long will those inpower fool us? How long can we pretend not to see what goes on in thename of concession to the so-called minorities?...Let us have a little laugh over our peculiar brand of secularism. Themicrophones blare at us spreading the word of Allah a good five times aday. But no Hindu can dare to play cymbals or beat the prayer drumswhile he passes the house of Allah.Secularism in our context is but an opportunistic impartiality, whichwas never intended to be, and therefore never will. It's just anothercoinage and convenience, a piece of useful jargon. But the intent isdeadly.Look under the cover of this impartiality, and you will find an unholyincest between purpose and intent.Opportunism is the prophylactic (sic), but the demon will surely beborn.Someday, someday very soon, when the purpose and the intent stand atcross-purposes, the membrane will be torn. And the bastard will beconceived. The monster will be born. And our land will be cursed.Look at the population. The growth in Hindu population is graduallyslowing down. But the Mussalman is on a rampage. From 30 million to130 million! As if he was born only to breed. Somehow, oh, somehow,can we somehow convince them that they are citizens of this country;tell them that their identity is not in danger; their existence is notin danger.I do not call the Mussalman a traitor. But unfortunately for them,their leadership is treacherous. The undoing of the Mussalmans in thissubcontinent is the lack of proper leadership. They have not had asingle good leader. Neither before, nor after the partition. Leadersof the stature of Maulana Azad and Hamid Dalwai failed to pass on theirdoctrines.And what we are left with are the likes of Shahbuddin, Bukhari andBanatwala. Tragicomic?.....As I see it, there are only two sects of peoples in our country. Onehas sworn allegiance to the country. The other is clearly against thecountry.And as far as I can see it, there has never been any other sect.....Forbeing an Indian, it is not only important to abide by our laws, but itis also important to live as we do, to accept our culture and to respectour traditions. And not only that, one must accept that Hinduism has byfar the largest following in this country. This must be remembered.Always.Those who refuse to accept this have no right to live in this country.Those who have all their lives spoken ill of Hindutva are not going tobe spared. Embrace this country in its entirety, as Hindustan. Elseleave.
Triumphant TigerDeccan Herald - Jan 23 1999
Though Sena Chief Bal Thackeray suspended the agitation launchedagainst the Indo-Pak cricket series, he has succeeded in establishinghimself as a parallel power centre.The head office of the Board of Cricket Control in India is on the first floor of Stadium House (Brabourne Stadium) situated oa busy road in the central business district. The broad pavements are also crowded with pedestrians and hawkers. There are shops below the office, busy with customers. A narrow staircase where there is just enough room for one person to climb, leads from the pavement to the upper offices. At 2.30 in the afternoon on Monday, about 40 to 50 persons armed with hockeysticks, rods and cricket stumps entered and attacked the place without anybody noticing it. They must have queued up outside on the pavement to make their way in. They entered the office, damaged the property and broke trophies which our cricketers had won with great effort.They also attacked Sharad Diwadkar, a former cricketer and officer in-charge of the organisation whose vice-president is Manohar Joshi, the chief minister of the state and Sena leader. Though the attackers were Sena men, Joshi did not resign from the post he holds in the BCCI. Nor did he assure of any action against the vandals. Nevertheless, Sena leader Udhhav Thackeray declared that his party would take out a morcha to the Police Commissioner`s office to protest the arrest of ''innocents.``Now let us turn to Sena Chief Bal Thackeray. In 1991 the pitch of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was damaged by his men to oppose the Indo-Pak cricket match. This time he reiterated his resolve to disrupt the present series on November 20 last year. He also declared that he would dump the BJP on this issue and came down heavily on his long-time friend and Defence Minister George Fernandes for criticising that ''Thackeray says something in the morning and forgets it by evening.`` But finally he proved Fernandes right as he suspended his agitation after Union Home Minister L K Advani persuaded him on January 21. But the Sena chief did achieve what he was eyeing for. He established himself as a parallel power centre since the Union Government had to secure clearance from him for the Indo-Pak cricket series.Volte faceUnion Home Minister L K Advani, who is being projected as an ''iron man`` by the BJP, came down to Mumbai with a request to the extra-constitutional authority that the Indo-Pak cricket series be allowed to take place. Till the BJP came to power, Thackeray`s extra-constitutional authority was confined to Maharashtra only, thanks to the successive Congress governments. Now it has extended to New Delhi, Chennai and other places outside the state.The people of Maharashtra are well aware of Thackeray`s history of making a volte face on various issues. During the Emergency he was on his knees before the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. He also backtracked from holding a meeting to force the state government for scrapping its decision of renaming of the Marathwada University after Dr B R Ambedkar. He did not even visit Aurangabad, as the police told him flatly that he would be arrested if he entered the city. The Tiger is very muchscared of being ensnared in a jail. But the successive Congress governments did not dare touch him, for various reasons, injecting life into the paper tiger.The key of the large following that Thackeray is enjoying lies in the fact that no government, police or court has touched him so far.But after the four-year saffron rule, the Thackeray empire is crumbling under its own weight. The trend was visible in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections also as the saffron combine faced a near rout. It also continued in subsequent Assembly by-polls and Zilla Parishad elections in four districts.CriticismTwo leading Marathi dailies - Maharashtra Times and Loksatta - hardly spared a word to criticise Thackeray`s stand this time. Kumar Ketkar, editor of Maharashtra Times even lambasted cricketers, Bollywood stars and other eminent personalities including Lata Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachhan and Sunil Gawaskar for crawling before Thackeray. Arun Tikekar, editor of Loksatta dissected the ''psuedo- nationalism`` of Thackeray. In the opinion poll conducted by Lokprabha, a Marathi weeklyof the Express Group which has over a lakh circulation, majority of people have voted against Thackeray`s stand. Senior leaders at the BJP office claim that Advani threatened Thackeray that his party would snap ties with the Sena which would bring down the state government headed by the Sena leader.The Union home minister reportedly cautioned the Sena chief of ISI design to disrupt the Indo- Pak cricket series under the garb of the Sena men, taking advantage of Thackeray`s resolve and statements.This theory hardly holds any water as invariably the BJP leaders are the first to issue statements about continuance of the alliance even as the Sena men act notoriously as directed by their chief.The only plausible explanation is that the BJP came under severe attack from its allies - J Jayalalitha, Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu and Samata Party - and the only option left for the BJP is to sacrifice the Maharashtra government and face the elections, according to Kumar Ketkar.''And therefore the Sena chief did not have any option but to stage a complete volte face,`` he said.Nikhil Wagle, editor of Apla Mahanagar, a popular Marathi eveninger, while talking to Deccan Herald said after the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, the Sena chief is whipping up the Hindutva fever to divert people`s attention from the failure of his government on all fronts.''He did not touch issues like price rise but asked his sainiks to disrupt Gulam Ali`s concert, imposed a ban on the censor cleared film Fire and so on,`` he pointed out adding that the Sena chief did not want the BJP to be the only saffron party to placate the Hindutva agency.Sunil Tambe in Mumbai
KING OF MUMBAI
Source:
Economist, 2/3/96, Vol. 338 Issue 7951, p28, 7/9p, 1bw
Abstract:
Reports on the power and leadership of Bal Thackeray, who leads India's Shiv Sena party which dominates the state government of Maharashtra. Thackeray's announcement of changing the name Bombay to Mumbai; India's central government accepting this change; Thackeray's background and personality; His reputation as a Hindu chauvinist; Talk of India becoming `Hindustan' if Thackeray has anything to say about it.
MUMBAI
SOME people laughed when the state government of Maharashtra, India's most prosperous state, announced that it was changing the name of the city of Bombay to Mumbai. But India's central government has accepted the change and last month the venerable Times of India also made the shift. Reluctantly, putting courtesy before convention, The Economist will too.
The man responsible for the change is Bal Thackeray, who leads the Shiv Sena party, which dominates the Maharashtra government. Mr Thackeray seems to have other name changes in mind. He likes to talk about "Hindustan" rather than India--a habit which illustrates exactly why many Indians fear him. As India's leading Hindu chauvinist and a scourge of Muslims, he threatens the country's tradition of tolerance and secularism.
Mr Thackeray's latest campaign is aimed at the one religion all Indians have in common--cricket--and specifically at the cricket World Cup, which will be staged jointly by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month. If Pakistan's team reaches the semi-finals, it will have to play in India. Mr Thackeray has sworn it will not: "I will not allow them to step on my motherland," he says. "We will damage the pitch . . . The coach carrying them will not drive on the road from the airport . . . They will not step into the stadium."
Mr Thackeray may not be able to make good his threats. The Pakistanis will not be playing in Mumbai and have obtained official assurances from India that their players will be safe. But his posturing will add to his spiky reputation. He has even achieved international notoriety, courtesy of Salman Rushdie, who has managed to enrage Hindu chauvinists with a thinly disguised and unflattering portrait of Mr Thackeray in "The Moor's Last Sigh", his most recent novel. Fear of violence has led to the book being withdrawn in Mumbai.
A former newspaper cartoonist, Mr Thack eray is a Jekyll-and-Hyde character. Visitors find a mild man, proud of his age--69 last month. He says he used to enjoy drawing the "strong nose" of Indira Gandhi, a former prime minister, and would like now to get to grips with the sombre jowls of Narasimha Rao, the present prime minister. He holds no official post, but controls the coalition from a closely guarded house in a middle-class Mum bai suburb where he is building a dynasty, grooming a son and a nephew as Shiv Sena leaders. Manohar Joshi, the party's deputy leader, is Maharashtra's chief minister, but he has little real power and openly admits the authority of "Mr Remote Control".
Mr Remote Control (currently resting with a bad heart) has been more restrained than many had feared. When his party came unexpectedly to power in March, as part of a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party, he talked about chasing non-Maharashtrans out of the state. That was not a credible policy, so he has broadened his attentions to Hindu fundamentalism. He insists that he does not want Muslims expelled from India, and that his real ire is aimed at Pakistan and at those Indian Muslims he sees as loyal to Pakistan. Businessmen credit the coalition with running a relatively effective government that is less corrupt (so far) than its predecessor, run by the Congress party.
But Mr Thackerary is showing signs of reverting to rabble-rousing type over the cricket tournament and other matters. Last week Maharashtra's state government caused a storm by closing a three-year-old official inquiry into communal riots that the Shiv Sena helped to incite. It has also replaced the state's top civil servant who opposed some of Mr Thackeray's plans.
The state government has extricated itself from the shambles it caused by scrapping--then renegotiating--a power project with En ron, an American company. But it remains equivocal about foreign investment. Mr Thackeray says he welcomes foreigners, but wants to protect Indian industries. "Don't come to kill our products, but if you have anything new, then we welcome it," he says. That leaves plenty of room for a xenophobic campaign in April's general election, in which, he hopes, Shiv Sena will expand across the country.
In more violent moods Mr Thackeray prods and provokes with a cartoonist's sense of the outrageous. He has even praised Hitler. He condemns the Holocaust, but says he admires Hitler for having "the charisma to cause a big earthquake for the whole world". He would like India "to imbibe that militant spirit". Cricketers and Muslims take note.
Triumphant TigerDeccan Herald - Jan 23 1999
Though Sena Chief Bal Thackeray suspended the agitation launchedagainst the Indo-Pak cricket series, he has succeeded in establishinghimself as a parallel power centre.The head office of the Board of Cricket Control in India is on the first floor of Stadium House (Brabourne Stadium) situated oa busy road in the central business district. The broad pavements are also crowded with pedestrians and hawkers. There are shops below the office, busy with customers. A narrow staircase where there is just enough room for one person to climb, leads from the pavement to the upper offices. At 2.30 in the afternoon on Monday, about 40 to 50 persons armed with hockeysticks, rods and cricket stumps entered and attacked the place without anybody noticing it. They must have queued up outside on the pavement to make their way in. They entered the office, damaged the property and broke trophies which our cricketers had won with great effort.They also attacked Sharad Diwadkar, a former cricketer and officer in-charge of the organisation whose vice-president is Manohar Joshi, the chief minister of the state and Sena leader. Though the attackers were Sena men, Joshi did not resign from the post he holds in the BCCI. Nor did he assure of any action against the vandals. Nevertheless, Sena leader Udhhav Thackeray declared that his party would take out a morcha to the Police Commissioner`s office to protest the arrest of ''innocents.``Now let us turn to Sena Chief Bal Thackeray. In 1991 the pitch of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was damaged by his men to oppose the Indo-Pak cricket match. This time he reiterated his resolve to disrupt the present series on November 20 last year. He also declared that he would dump the BJP on this issue and came down heavily on his long-time friend and Defence Minister George Fernandes for criticising that ''Thackeray says something in the morning and forgets it by evening.`` But finally he proved Fernandes right as he suspended his agitation after Union Home Minister L K Advani persuaded him on January 21. But the Sena chief did achieve what he was eyeing for. He established himself as a parallel power centre since the Union Government had to secure clearance from him for the Indo-Pak cricket series.Volte faceUnion Home Minister L K Advani, who is being projected as an ''iron man`` by the BJP, came down to Mumbai with a request to the extra-constitutional authority that the Indo-Pak cricket series be allowed to take place. Till the BJP came to power, Thackeray`s extra-constitutional authority was confined to Maharashtra only, thanks to the successive Congress governments. Now it has extended to New Delhi, Chennai and other places outside the state.The people of Maharashtra are well aware of Thackeray`s history of making a volte face on various issues. During the Emergency he was on his knees before the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. He also backtracked from holding a meeting to force the state government for scrapping its decision of renaming of the Marathwada University after Dr B R Ambedkar. He did not even visit Aurangabad, as the police told him flatly that he would be arrested if he entered the city. The Tiger is very muchscared of being ensnared in a jail. But the successive Congress governments did not dare touch him, for various reasons, injecting life into the paper tiger.The key of the large following that Thackeray is enjoying lies in the fact that no government, police or court has touched him so far.But after the four-year saffron rule, the Thackeray empire is crumbling under its own weight. The trend was visible in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections also as the saffron combine faced a near rout. It also continued in subsequent Assembly by-polls and Zilla Parishad elections in four districts.CriticismTwo leading Marathi dailies - Maharashtra Times and Loksatta - hardly spared a word to criticise Thackeray`s stand this time. Kumar Ketkar, editor of Maharashtra Times even lambasted cricketers, Bollywood stars and other eminent personalities including Lata Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachhan and Sunil Gawaskar for crawling before Thackeray. Arun Tikekar, editor of Loksatta dissected the ''psuedo- nationalism`` of Thackeray. In the opinion poll conducted by Lokprabha, a Marathi weeklyof the Express Group which has over a lakh circulation, majority of people have voted against Thackeray`s stand. Senior leaders at the BJP office claim that Advani threatened Thackeray that his party would snap ties with the Sena which would bring down the state government headed by the Sena leader.The Union home minister reportedly cautioned the Sena chief of ISI design to disrupt the Indo- Pak cricket series under the garb of the Sena men, taking advantage of Thackeray`s resolve and statements.This theory hardly holds any water as invariably the BJP leaders are the first to issue statements about continuance of the alliance even as the Sena men act notoriously as directed by their chief.The only plausible explanation is that the BJP came under severe attack from its allies - J Jayalalitha, Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu and Samata Party - and the only option left for the BJP is to sacrifice the Maharashtra government and face the elections, according to Kumar Ketkar.''And therefore the Sena chief did not have any option but to stage a complete volte face,`` he said.Nikhil Wagle, editor of Apla Mahanagar, a popular Marathi eveninger, while talking to Deccan Herald said after the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, the Sena chief is whipping up the Hindutva fever to divert people`s attention from the failure of his government on all fronts.''He did not touch issues like price rise but asked his sainiks to disrupt Gulam Ali`s concert, imposed a ban on the censor cleared film Fire and so on,`` he pointed out adding that the Sena chief did not want the BJP to be the only saffron party to placate the Hindutva agency.Sunil Tambe in Mumbai
KING OF MUMBAI
Source:
Economist, 2/3/96, Vol. 338 Issue 7951, p28, 7/9p, 1bw
Abstract:
Reports on the power and leadership of Bal Thackeray, who leads India's Shiv Sena party which dominates the state government of Maharashtra. Thackeray's announcement of changing the name Bombay to Mumbai; India's central government accepting this change; Thackeray's background and personality; His reputation as a Hindu chauvinist; Talk of India becoming `Hindustan' if Thackeray has anything to say about it.
MUMBAI
SOME people laughed when the state government of Maharashtra, India's most prosperous state, announced that it was changing the name of the city of Bombay to Mumbai. But India's central government has accepted the change and last month the venerable Times of India also made the shift. Reluctantly, putting courtesy before convention, The Economist will too.
The man responsible for the change is Bal Thackeray, who leads the Shiv Sena party, which dominates the Maharashtra government. Mr Thackeray seems to have other name changes in mind. He likes to talk about "Hindustan" rather than India--a habit which illustrates exactly why many Indians fear him. As India's leading Hindu chauvinist and a scourge of Muslims, he threatens the country's tradition of tolerance and secularism.
Mr Thackeray's latest campaign is aimed at the one religion all Indians have in common--cricket--and specifically at the cricket World Cup, which will be staged jointly by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month. If Pakistan's team reaches the semi-finals, it will have to play in India. Mr Thackeray has sworn it will not: "I will not allow them to step on my motherland," he says. "We will damage the pitch . . . The coach carrying them will not drive on the road from the airport . . . They will not step into the stadium."
Mr Thackeray may not be able to make good his threats. The Pakistanis will not be playing in Mumbai and have obtained official assurances from India that their players will be safe. But his posturing will add to his spiky reputation. He has even achieved international notoriety, courtesy of Salman Rushdie, who has managed to enrage Hindu chauvinists with a thinly disguised and unflattering portrait of Mr Thackeray in "The Moor's Last Sigh", his most recent novel. Fear of violence has led to the book being withdrawn in Mumbai.
A former newspaper cartoonist, Mr Thack eray is a Jekyll-and-Hyde character. Visitors find a mild man, proud of his age--69 last month. He says he used to enjoy drawing the "strong nose" of Indira Gandhi, a former prime minister, and would like now to get to grips with the sombre jowls of Narasimha Rao, the present prime minister. He holds no official post, but controls the coalition from a closely guarded house in a middle-class Mum bai suburb where he is building a dynasty, grooming a son and a nephew as Shiv Sena leaders. Manohar Joshi, the party's deputy leader, is Maharashtra's chief minister, but he has little real power and openly admits the authority of "Mr Remote Control".
Mr Remote Control (currently resting with a bad heart) has been more restrained than many had feared. When his party came unexpectedly to power in March, as part of a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party, he talked about chasing non-Maharashtrans out of the state. That was not a credible policy, so he has broadened his attentions to Hindu fundamentalism. He insists that he does not want Muslims expelled from India, and that his real ire is aimed at Pakistan and at those Indian Muslims he sees as loyal to Pakistan. Businessmen credit the coalition with running a relatively effective government that is less corrupt (so far) than its predecessor, run by the Congress party.
But Mr Thackerary is showing signs of reverting to rabble-rousing type over the cricket tournament and other matters. Last week Maharashtra's state government caused a storm by closing a three-year-old official inquiry into communal riots that the Shiv Sena helped to incite. It has also replaced the state's top civil servant who opposed some of Mr Thackeray's plans.
The state government has extricated itself from the shambles it caused by scrapping--then renegotiating--a power project with En ron, an American company. But it remains equivocal about foreign investment. Mr Thackeray says he welcomes foreigners, but wants to protect Indian industries. "Don't come to kill our products, but if you have anything new, then we welcome it," he says. That leaves plenty of room for a xenophobic campaign in April's general election, in which, he hopes, Shiv Sena will expand across the country.
In more violent moods Mr Thackeray prods and provokes with a cartoonist's sense of the outrageous. He has even praised Hitler. He condemns the Holocaust, but says he admires Hitler for having "the charisma to cause a big earthquake for the whole world". He would like India "to imbibe that militant spirit". Cricketers and Muslims take note.
HINDU HRIDAY SAMARAT
Dahisar BALA SAHEB THACKERAY SOCIAL VISIT - 8 visits - May 24
SHIV SENA PRAMUKH SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY VISITED AT DR. PRAVIN BHATIA -PURECHA'S HOME ON 25TH APRIL ... Purecha is the divine energy behind this vision. ...wikimapia.org/608888/ - 30k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
SHIV SENA PRAMUKH SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY VISITED AT DR. PRAVIN BHATIA -PURECHA'S HOME ON 25TH APRIL ... Purecha is the divine energy behind this vision. ...wikimapia.org/608888/ - 30k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
MY LOVE WITH BALA SAHEB
Bal Keshav ThackerayBAL THACKERAY, LEADER OF the rightist Shiv Sena party, is called Hindu Hriday Samrat by his followers, which means "Emperor of the Hindu Heart." Born on 23rd January 1927, Shri Thackeray, a hard-core Nationalist, formed SHIVSENA on 19th June 1966, an organisation striving for giving justice to the youth. In a passage of little more than three decades, it has built itself into a formidable force of millions of young men and women, the Shivsainiks, who gathered under the saffron flag. He was awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna award for the Year 1998-99. Thackeray is one of Bombay's most powerful leadersBeing the foremost among Patriots and Peace activists, Mr Thackeray has for decades fought in the Nations interest. He is a true Patriot and one who has spent his entire life promoting peace, friendship and harmony in society and between India and its Neighbours. He has served as an inspiration to his movement The Shiv Sena, His party's goverment, the Brave People of Maharashtra and the Rest of India. Bal Thackeray Started his career as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal,Mumbai,one of the reputed Newspapers. His Cartoons were also published in world famous dailies like Asahi Shimboon, Tokyo and Sunday edition of The New York Times. He was the only Cartoonist from Hindusthan whose works were included in the book published by the world famous publishers M/s Kessels & Co., London. He took to cartooning in early fifties inspired by the greats in the field such as David Low and Walt Disney . And acquired leading position as a political cartoonist in the National media of Hindusthan (India). Realising the need for a daily newspaper, his own Marathi morning daily 'Saamana',was launched on 23rd Jan, 1989 and continues to hit the stands every day throughout the state of Maharashtra with its Clarion call for the unity of this country and seeking justice to the cause of Hindutva, the true nationalism, in the land of Hindusthan.
SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY & HINDUTVA
The Profile of Shri Balasaheb Thackeray
Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is the living legend of Indian politics. Amidst other political pigmies his towering personality stands out like Himalayan peaks .His enigmatic persona has won the hearts of millions of Maharashtrians as well as fellow countrymen. Balasaheb is a mass leader in true sense of the word and his contribution to the promotion of Hindutva has been remarkable. His political ideology is a curious mix of nationalist agenda , pro Hindu stance and sons of the soil policy. He launched Shiv Sena on 30th October, 1966 with a great vision for Maharashtra and it's people .It was formed to give the due right to Maharashtrians who were ousted in their own homeland. After accomplishing this task successfully he advocated the cause of firebrand Hinduism which gave him immense popularity on national and international front. He heads the political organisation Shiv Sena whose journey to stardom has been a long, bumpy ride. From 'sons of the soil' slogans in the back-alleys of Mumbai to hardcore Hindutva. From Municipal Corporation to Mantralaya, The Shiv Sena has come a long way. Few will deny the role of Shiv Sena Chief in altering the state's social and political agenda .It is perhaps the only party which without mounting platitudes, allows backwards and Brahmins to co-exist under one roof. This explains why Shri Thackeray stands heads and shoulders above his peers, a fact his critics find difficult to stomach. Though routinely railed for his views and ideology, public criticism has hardly dampened Shri Thackeray's invincible spirit ."I will fight till the end ," is his mission statement. Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is very open by nature. He is not the person who would think one thing and say something else. Sometimes he had to pay political price for this frank outspoken behaviour but he is least bothered. He began his career as a cartoonist and journalist and joined politics under specific circumstances. It was the joint Maharashtra movement which fueled the surcharged emotions. His exemplary skills as a cartoonist and visionary media strategist has contributed firebrand daily " Samana", Hindi Eveninger "Dopahar Ka Samana" And " Marmik". The ever rising graph of Balasaheb's political career has amazed several political observers. His impeccable oratory skills still mesmerizes the audiences with extraordinary wit and fluid style. Many of his no-holds-barred statements have triggered-off controversies but his enigma continues to enthrall media and mass. In Shiv Sena, Balasaheb does not have to issue a dictat. Whatever he says, automatically becomes an order for the partymen and followers. Shiv Sena Chief commands a special status in the party and whole heartedly accepted as a benevolent leader. Unlike leaders in other parties Balasaheb's style of functioning is entirely different. He has a Lion's share in breaking a thirty year old monopoly of Congress rule in the State. It is amazing to see that Balasaheb alone commands such unflinching loyalty of the Sena workers and boundless popularity among the masses for nearly thirty years, other political leaders can not match him even fractionally. Balasaheb is the first and only example of its kind not only in Maharashtra but also in India. Shri. Thackeray's greatest contribution to Maharashtra and Maharashtrians is the sense of pride which he inculcated over the decades among people. It was he who stressed that Maharashtrians should be treated on par with outsiders. His towering personality has inspired youths of Maharashtra to grow against all odds. It was his social commitment and sincerity of purpose which paved way for pioneering schemes like free housing scheme for slum dwellers and jobs for unemployed youths. After all, it is he who is feeding fodder to their cannon. Even his staunchest detractors will admit that Bal Keshav Thackeray is the most popular public figure of contemporary Maharashtra. For over three decades Shri Thackeray has been straddling the state's political centre stage, evoking extreme response from faithfuls and foes alike his Charm continues to rule hearts of millions of Maharashtrians.
Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is the living legend of Indian politics. Amidst other political pigmies his towering personality stands out like Himalayan peaks .His enigmatic persona has won the hearts of millions of Maharashtrians as well as fellow countrymen. Balasaheb is a mass leader in true sense of the word and his contribution to the promotion of Hindutva has been remarkable. His political ideology is a curious mix of nationalist agenda , pro Hindu stance and sons of the soil policy. He launched Shiv Sena on 30th October, 1966 with a great vision for Maharashtra and it's people .It was formed to give the due right to Maharashtrians who were ousted in their own homeland. After accomplishing this task successfully he advocated the cause of firebrand Hinduism which gave him immense popularity on national and international front. He heads the political organisation Shiv Sena whose journey to stardom has been a long, bumpy ride. From 'sons of the soil' slogans in the back-alleys of Mumbai to hardcore Hindutva. From Municipal Corporation to Mantralaya, The Shiv Sena has come a long way. Few will deny the role of Shiv Sena Chief in altering the state's social and political agenda .It is perhaps the only party which without mounting platitudes, allows backwards and Brahmins to co-exist under one roof. This explains why Shri Thackeray stands heads and shoulders above his peers, a fact his critics find difficult to stomach. Though routinely railed for his views and ideology, public criticism has hardly dampened Shri Thackeray's invincible spirit ."I will fight till the end ," is his mission statement. Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is very open by nature. He is not the person who would think one thing and say something else. Sometimes he had to pay political price for this frank outspoken behaviour but he is least bothered. He began his career as a cartoonist and journalist and joined politics under specific circumstances. It was the joint Maharashtra movement which fueled the surcharged emotions. His exemplary skills as a cartoonist and visionary media strategist has contributed firebrand daily " Samana", Hindi Eveninger "Dopahar Ka Samana" And " Marmik". The ever rising graph of Balasaheb's political career has amazed several political observers. His impeccable oratory skills still mesmerizes the audiences with extraordinary wit and fluid style. Many of his no-holds-barred statements have triggered-off controversies but his enigma continues to enthrall media and mass. In Shiv Sena, Balasaheb does not have to issue a dictat. Whatever he says, automatically becomes an order for the partymen and followers. Shiv Sena Chief commands a special status in the party and whole heartedly accepted as a benevolent leader. Unlike leaders in other parties Balasaheb's style of functioning is entirely different. He has a Lion's share in breaking a thirty year old monopoly of Congress rule in the State. It is amazing to see that Balasaheb alone commands such unflinching loyalty of the Sena workers and boundless popularity among the masses for nearly thirty years, other political leaders can not match him even fractionally. Balasaheb is the first and only example of its kind not only in Maharashtra but also in India. Shri. Thackeray's greatest contribution to Maharashtra and Maharashtrians is the sense of pride which he inculcated over the decades among people. It was he who stressed that Maharashtrians should be treated on par with outsiders. His towering personality has inspired youths of Maharashtra to grow against all odds. It was his social commitment and sincerity of purpose which paved way for pioneering schemes like free housing scheme for slum dwellers and jobs for unemployed youths. After all, it is he who is feeding fodder to their cannon. Even his staunchest detractors will admit that Bal Keshav Thackeray is the most popular public figure of contemporary Maharashtra. For over three decades Shri Thackeray has been straddling the state's political centre stage, evoking extreme response from faithfuls and foes alike his Charm continues to rule hearts of millions of Maharashtrians.
BALA SAHEB'S VISION ON HINDUTVA
"BALA SAHEB AAMCHE'' FAN CLUB
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Balasaheb Thackeray's visionSHAKTI CHA VIJAY ASHOO..., HAA AWAAZ KUNAACHA..? TATYAAN CHE ASHIRWAD SADAIVE ASHOO...,HINDUTVA AAMCHE VICHAAR HEY CH AAMCHE NIRDHAAR..As I see it, there are only two sects of peoples in our country. One has sworn allegiance to the country. The other is clearly against the country.And as far as I can see it, there has never been any other sect.....For being an Indian, it is not only important to abide by our laws, but it is also important to live as we do, to accept our culture and to respect our traditions. And not only that, one must accept that Hinduism has by far the largest following in this country. This must be remembered. Always.Those who refuse to accept this have no right to live in this country. Those who have all their lives spoken ill of Hindutva are not going to be spared. Embrace this country in its entirety, as Hindustan. Else leave.-JAY MAHARASTRA
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