Dear all
Bala Saheb Thackeray , the 86 year old veteran of Marathee
Manoos is no more . Praying for the departed soul.
Started as a cartoonist, Balasab got into the political scene
by galvanising Marathi sentiments particularly on the job less youth by proclaiming
that Jobs are taken away by immigrant South Indians and sought for regional quota
among factory workers. During the Mumbai riots and the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation he became a strong proponent of the
Hindutva campaign with his fiery speeches.
Sri Krishna Commission indicted him in communal conspiracy and the state government
saved him. His party joined hand with BJP giving him a national colour where he
spoke more on Hindu pride and nationalism.
At the same time when there was choice between Abdul Kalam and
Pratibha Patil he chooses the congress candidate because of her being Marathi.
When his more capable nephew Raj challenged his authority, he chooses his Son and
grandson as his political heir and then criticised Congress for family legacy.
He asked Muslims to be first Indians then Muslims but when it came to Maharashtrians
, he was first a Maharashtrian then an Indian. When his cadres started chasing Bihari workers the patriarch was
silent on the Pan India Hindutva.
It is left for the readers to judge him either as
xenophobic and Hippocratic or whether as a Nationalist or regionalist
, but he leaves behind a legacy of
political conviction , clarity of thought and the ability to behold the Regional Asmita
(pride)of his State .
Sanyasi:
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