This Tiger was none other than Balasaheb Thackeray, Supremo & founder of the local militant Maratha political party, the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena was founded by Thackeray on the principle of Maratha identity. Its main idealogy borrowed from a valiant, guerilla fighter/king of the 16th century - Shivaji, who consolidated the Marathi speaking kingdom in western India, (mostly Maharashtra in modern day India) and established his rule in the face of the powerful Mughals. Famous for his guerilla tactics in the Sahyadris, he conquered many a province from under the very noses of the Mughals and established Maratha rule with its mighty forts and strongholds. Shivaji's rule did not last long. His successors were not tactically strong enough to maintain their hold over the kingdom against the Mughals and the incoming British.
Balasaheb was nowhere near as accompolished as Shivaji. But he rose to prominence riding on the back of the great Maratha king, evoking the past grandeur of the Maratha identity and used this very populist messages to establish his influence over ordinary Maharahstrians. (I am a Maharashtrian myself!) Those days most Maharshatrians worked in famous cloth mills of Mumbai and he established himself overcoming the powerful trade union leaders - the Communists and then went on to form the Shiv Sena.
Maharashtrians traditionally are very simple people. The do not have the business acumen of the Gujaratis or the robust gregariousness of the Punjabis. They believe in simple employments and do not normally crave lofty ambitions. (Things have of course changed over the last 50 years. Many a Maharashtrian today has achieved tremendous success in almost all fields - be it business or education, science or medicine, entertainment or sport.)
Balasaheb, a cartoonist by profession, used this very simplicity to his advantage. Over the years, he launched strong attacks on the non-Marathi populace of Mumbai, a mainly cosmopolitan city, the financial capital of the country. And his band of followers - Sainiks, emboldened and unfettered, launched brazen attacks on the ordinary people, whom Balasaheb opposed. He was very fortright in his views. Mumbai was for Maharashtrians only. Ordinary Maharashtrians, long used to seeing "outsiders" migrating to to this beautiful city, were highly influenced by the notion he suggested that these migrants were the main reasons of loss of local jobs. Thus serially over time, the South Indians, then Gujaratis and lately the people from North India - mainly UP & Bihar had become easy targets of the Sainiks.
Yet ordinary Maharashtrains revered him and still do. To them, he was demi-God. The fact that he stood by his word, never went back on anything he said and was brazen and fearless enough to speak his firebrand mind just added to his ferocious persona. He was renowned by his sharp wit and straightforward views. Hence the epithet - Tiger!
National parties would call for various bandhs. Local Mumbaikars would only care for one thing. Is the Sena supporting the bandh? If no, then its life as usual. But if yes, then all the shops, establishments, public transport, schools, colleges & offices would be closed. Anyone who dared to keep their shop open or car on the road would be thrashed by one of his foot soldiers. So Mumbaikars knew the power of the Sena. It relied on him to defend itself at times!
Eventually, he decided to flex his muscles nationally. And the worst outcome of this ambition was the Mumbai riots, following the demolition of the Babri Masjid and then once again after the Bomb Blasts of 1992. Sena hooliganism reached anarchic proportions. Now, Thackeray became the upholder of not just the Maratha identity, but of entire Hindutva! India's Hindu identity was at stake, he proclaimed and thus, Muslim blood flowed freely on Mumbai's streets. This was the biggest blot on the history of Mumbai, once revered for its melting pot of all encompassing cosmopolitanism.
The Shiv Sena grew from a small state party to one now recognised on the national scene. Yet, its influence was mostly regional and always fundamentalist, extreme right wing! Mumbai's local Muncipal corporation has been ruled by the Sena for years now and sadly the infrastructure seems to just get worse. But each time there is a local election, its back in power miraculously!
I remember years ago, there was news of him being arrested for some inflamatory speech he has made, one of his many. And once the news spread, the city literally shut down in minutes. People ran home, shops shut, public transport came to a standstill. That was the power of one man. He was arrested and released in a few minutes, more of a token gesture, it seemed.
Years later, now, the Shiv Sena seems weakened due to the succession feud between Balasaheb's son - Uddhav and his nephew - Raj, the latter forming his own party claiming the legacy of the Tiger - the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)! Raj carries most of his uncle's persona, his talent for carciature, his wit and his firebrand ways. Uddhav on the other hand appears milder and calm. Yet, the supremo chose his son to hand over the mantle of the Sena.
With increasing education among Maharashtrians, knowledge and less tolerance for violence from ordinary folk, the Shiv Sena is more tamed in its ways. Its violent image, now seems to be hijacked by the MNS. But its still a force to reckon with in Mumbai.
Balasaheb has been unwell for the last several months, he was 86 of course. On this Diwali, he fell terribly ill, never to recover. Mumbai had a subdued Bhau Bheej (day after Diwali & New Year) this year. As usual, the ground level Sainiks flexed their muscles and downed shutters again, on rumours of his death (which was subsequently denied).
Today, finally, he has breathed his last and once again I see the same panicked exodus from offices (though few were working today being a Saturday) and frantic rallying by ordinary Mumbaikars to get home to avoid any mob violence by crazed Sainiks, stunned by the loss of their beloved Tiger. There was a a profound sense of loss though. Balasaheb's home - Matoshree has been swamped by scores of his followers, maintaining all night vigils since he fell terribly ill a few days ago. The leaders seem headless and uninspired, appealing to Sainiks to maintain calm.
The Mumbai Police is out in full force - some 25000 of them, on cancelled Diwali leaves, manning the city day & night to prevent any untoward violence! Some say, his death had already occurred during Diwali, but the news was withheld on account of this important Hindu festival and was purposely announced on Saturday evening, keeping in mind that the next day was a holiday.
As I write this piece, I cant help but admire the man. I may not have agreed to his views all the time and certainly despised the bigotry and street justice he perpetrated. Yet, the power he held over the city was unparalled. Mumbai renowned for its famous Mumbai Spirit, its never say-die attitude - unfazed even in the times of Bomb Blasts, the massive flood of 2006, earthquakes, hell or high water, was time and again shut down by one word from this man!
Today, once his death was announced, and all of tomorrow, everything (and I mean, everything) is shut in Mumbai. This includes all public transport, markets, malls, movie theatres et al. Only the BEST buses & local trains will be running to ferry followers and Sainiks hoping to catch one last glimpse of their famous Tiger! Mumbai Police has issued several advisories to Mumbaikars to stay indoors. The funeral preparations are quite literally on a war scale. Unprecedented!!! I have never seen anything like this! Not even, I assume, this would happen for Prime Minister if he were to pass away!
Mumbai indeed has lost its roaring Tiger! I wonder if there will be another leader like him in the future. I hope his legacy lingers, though peacefully & more inclusively for all.
Mumbai & I salute this brave Maratha warrior!
RIP Balasaheb Thackeray!
Update on 18Nov2012: The funeral procession!
All the critics have been silenced today! As the funeral procession winds its way from Matoshree to Shivaji Park where he is to be cremated later today, I cant help but be amazed at the overwhelming outpouring of grief! There are 2 million people (at best estimates) forming part of this procession and counting! Its 7 kms long and there are more and more people joining in!
It is an unprecendented, stunning spectacle!!! Comparisons are now being made with the funeral procession of none other Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India! To all those people who say that Mumbai is closed out of fear, I guess this is the best answer to all the sceptics! Such large crowds of people, orderly and peaceful in their final march with their beloved leader is unheard of and unseen! Such is the power and legacy of this man!
From ashes to ashes, dust to dust.....the mortal remains will be consigned to flames at dusk today! Hope his soul finds peace!
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