Balasaheb Thackeray – Hinduhriday Samrat!

The great Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is popularly known amongst the masses as “Janata Raja” (also the name of a famous play based on his life). Literally, it means “The wise king”. Is it ironical in the sense that the King who won so many battles against mighty warriors and established his own kingdom against the might of history, is popularly remembered today more for his knowledge and wisdom rather than for his military valor? For people from outside the state, Shivaji has been identified as the great “Maratha”. But the empire that he established is known as “Hindavi Swarajya” meaning “self-rule of Hindu people”, which has wider connotations. No matter how convenient we find it to “compartmentalize” and “tag” history and great historical figures, over the time the clamor dismantles and the true “image” settles down. Not on the pages of newspapers or on the screens of Television sets, but in the very hearts of people who identify with these great personalities. It is in this background, that I find late Balasaheb Thackeray’s image as not of any aggressive leader of regional influence, but of someone who had a grand vision and a nationalistic thinking. Definitely “Hindu Hridaysamrat” (the one who rules the hearts of Hindus). 

I had a discussion with a group of friends recently on Balasaheb’s contribution towards our nation India. I thought it would be useful to compile and share some of the points made by the group. You are welcome to add to this list, which is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

Contributions of Balasaheb Thackeray towards National Causes in India:

1. Strong Opponent of Illegal Bangladeshi Muslim Migrants: In Balasaheb, we found a fearless leader who openly opposed illegal migration of Bangladeshi migrants into Mumbai and other places in India. He threatened to send them packing. When in power, his political party did send many such illegal migrants back to where they came from. Such illegal migrants are threat to our national security. They also steal low level skilled/unskilled jobs from very poor Indian nationals, and burden the city’s infrastructure in an unplanned manner. Some political parties use these people as their vote bank and perhaps only Balasaheb was a leader who opposed this politics openly.

2. Politics of fast development and growth: Today, Narendra Modi is identified with development politics, but when Shiv Sena had come to power, it did very rapid development in the state:

i) Slum Rehabilitation Scheme: Economic Times article [Link] mentions, “One of the key initiatives of the Shiv Sena was the slum rehabilitation scheme. As the ruling party of the state, it expanded the scheme in 1995. The scheme continues to gain momentum as this remains a key route for land acquisition in land-starved Mumbai, be it for infrastructure, urban development or housing construction. The scheme was essentially a cross-subsidization scheme under which developers could access land for development at market rates in exchange for providing housing for slum-dwellers.”

ii) Construction of 55 flyovers in Mumbai: Shiv Sena-led government in 1995 announced the construction of 55 flyovers in Mumbai in order to provide adequate infrastructure in Mumbai. The entire project was pegged at Rs 1,500-1,600 crore and was the largest urban infrastructure project undertaken in the city until then.

iii) Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Built by the state's Road Development Corporation, it was a result of Bal Thackeray’s wish. If you ever travel between Mumbai and Pune and are impressed with the world class E-Way, you should thank Balasaheb for it.

iv) Sea Link in Mumbai (Bandra Worli Sea Link): Even the Bandra Worli Sea Link was Balasaheb’s dream project, but Cong. renamed it after Rajiv Gandhi for political reasons.

3. Protecting Hindu Temple (ISKCON, Mumbai) from demolition: You can read it on ISKCON’s website [Link]. It mentions, “But very few people know how he intervened when Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple in Juhu was being violently attacked.... While we were all rushing forward to meet the municipal workers and police — and were being taken into custody —a Gujarati devotee named Manasvi dasa was crouching in the bushes and watching. And he got the idea to phone Balasaheb Thackeray, who was known for supporting Hindu causes. Manasvi phoned and gave the report. Bal Thackeray called the Municipal Commissioner, informed him of what was happening, and told him to stop the demolition of the temple. The Municipal Commissioner, being part of the clique that had conspired against the temple, objected. Then Bal Thackeray said, “Just remember who this city belongs to.” “Okay, Balasaheb. Okay.” Then the Municipal Commissioner phoned the K-Ward Officer in Andheri, who was in charge of the Juhu area. And the Ward Officer came personally, running to the site to stop the demolition...

Remembering Balasaheb Thackeray’s service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari, ISKCON devotees from Juhu and Chowpatty joined the funeral procession and later chanted on the stage at Shivaji Park: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.... Bal Thackeray came forward and helped at a most critical moment.

4. Saving Hindus during 1993 Riots: Though Shivsena’s role during the riots is controversial to speak about, most of the locals mention that Shivsena had protected Hindus during the riots.

5. Protecting Sikhs during 1984 anti-Sikh genocide: Though the role would be controversial to talk about, locals recall how Shiv Sena under Balasaheb Thackeray protected Sikhs from the riots. It is no surprise that Sikhs mourned his demise and Gurudwaras were open and langar (community kitchen) organized for the mourners taking part in funeral. [Link]

In 2008, after an incident Balasaheb Thackeray had written [Link] in Saamna that if the anti-Sikhs riots did not spread to Mumbai in 1984, it was largely because of the Shiv Sena. He said the then President, Giani Zail Singh, had thanked him for protecting members of his community in Mumbai while those in Delhi had suffered.

6. Standing for and helping Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits: Ashoke Pandit writes on Tahelka Blog [Link] in the article titled “Thackeray stood by the Kashmiri Pandits”: It was Balasaheb Thackeray who immediately ordered a reservation to be fixed for the refugee Kashmiri youths in all the colleges of Maharashtra. The reservation included Muslims, Ladakhi, Pandit and the children of security forces serving in the valley. This way, he secured the future of 50,000 youths who had the choice of picking up guns in the absence of education. For me, this was Balasaheb Thackeray who did not shy away from taking a stand while those in Delhi were taking refuge behind the diplomacy of terrorism.”

Very often Bal Thackeray mentioned the plight of Kashmiri Pandits in his statements, thereby highlighting it in front of those who forget them. Like he made this statement when flaying SRK for his ‘love’ for Pakistan [Link]: "Why did Shah Rukh never feel that he should do a charity show for flood victims in India, for the 26/11 terror victims or for rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits who have been ousted from their homeland?”.

Kashmiri Pandit organizations and leaders said with Balasaheb's death the community has become an orphan. Balasaheb had wholeheartedly supported the idea of creating the Union Territory of Panun Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir as a solution to Kashmir problem. [Link]

7. Not believing in Castes and Opposing Caste Based Reservations: Balasaheb Thackeray was against Caste Based Reservations. He was perhaps the only fearless and patriot politician who was brave enough to speak his mind and say clearly that he was against caste based reservations and caste based discrimination. I watched Balasaheb's interview on TV where he spoke against caste based reservations and said that he believed there were only two castes in this world - rich and poor. He added that we should make poor rich but not rich poor. The next question that the interviewer asked him after his opposition to caste quota was: “How far do you think Bal Thackeray will go in politics.” He was so brave and courageous that people did not believe a straight forward person like would ever succeed in politics. It is also said that Balasaheb Thackeray lost colleagues like Bhujbal who believed and wanted to indulge in caste-politics due to differences in opinion on this matter.

He had got this anti-caste legacy from his father Late Keshav Sitaram Thackeray who was a social reformer who worked to eradicate the evils of caste system.

8. Selfless service to the poor and common people: In the article titled "Bal Thackeray, the people magnet", Rajendra Aklekar, DNA, Nov 28, 2012 writes: "Till the mid-1980s, Thackeray used to answer all phone calls himself and went out of his way to help those who sought help, irrespective of class or religion. He used to go through the "letters" columns of most newspapers and set his men to work... It was, I remember, during the last state elections that the Sena set up a call centre and helpline to solve citizens' grievances. People could call the helpline and young men and women, attired in smart black uniforms, would answer the call, note down the problem, get it solved by their elected representatives and get back to the citizen."

I have personally seen Shiv Sena’s ambulances running on the streets of Mumbai. There are reading centers etc for the people run by the party. Even on internet you can find yellow pages telling about Shiv Sena Ambulance Service. Here is the website of Shiv Sena’s Kerala unit which tells about its social work [Link] http://www.shivsena-kerala.org/service.htm. It talks about its free services, blood donation, educational support, free food, self-employment support, orphanage and old age homes, etc. You can see a slogan at the bottom of the page which mentions “Jai Hindustan Jai Kerala”. For those who thought Shiv Sena as only a regional party, should note its national presence. Most recently, Shiv Sena started “Saffron Guards” to protect morning walkers [Link]. Locals say that they feel safe in the city because there of Shiv Sena and its members. There is also a Yuva Sena doing lot of work under leadership of Aditya Thackeray [Link].

9. Opinion Maker on Issues of National Interest: He was an opinion maker on most of the national issues impacting the common man. He did not confine his area of interest to the state of Maharashtra only, but most of the time we heard him speak his mind on all issues of national interests. In the weeks just before his demise, we heard him oppose Pakistan Cricket team’s visit to India in the name of furthering diplomatic ties between the nations. On the occasion of Dessara, the festival representing victory of good over evil, his message was to throw out darkness out of our lives by throwing out corrupt party leading the government. Most of the time, his opinions represented the feelings of the common man.

- Rahul Tiwary

Note: Views are personal and do not represent views of any organization associated with the author. [Detailed disclaimer]