It was during my student days in Pune that I first came to know of Raj Thackeray. That was the time when he first started making noises against Uddhav Thackeray. And that was the first time we came to know that the flat bang opposite ours belonged to Raj Thackeray.
We would see streams and streams of people coming to visit him, though he would be happily sitting at his Shivaji Park home in Mumbai. All sorts of ruffian-esque people were at his door 24/7. Thoughtful neighbours and security guards would check upon us as we were six girls staying alone out there. And frankly, it was slightly scary to most of us, but what we all agreed upon was that the man had charisma and that was why so many people came to his door everyday.
The big fallout happened and Raj was all over the Maharashtrian media. The mass exodus from Shiv Sena happened. And our apartment block was again flooded with party workers, policemen, reporters and onlookers.
When Thackeray started MNS, it seemed like he wanted to steer away from the bullying and goonda raj politics of the Sena. His local leaders were all young men, the average age of his leaders being not more than 35. Most of them well educated. They seemed to be eager to do something different.
For a year, the novelty lasted. The party grew slowly and steadily, though it was still far from being a threat to anyone. But the image of MNS as a young, educated party seemed to attract the younger generation in Pune, who seemed to be willing to vote him over the Sena. But one year down the line all that has changed.
Like a news channel that suddenly realises that good journalism doesn't get TRPs and starts showing all sorts of sensational stuff, Raj Thackeray started to make more vigorous statements. And finally the day came when the leader - who has remained refined till date - started making the very same noises that the Sena made a few years ago.
The provocation - an SP rally and a North Indian friendly Shiv Sena. The cleverly-crafted, suave image was shed to reveal a leader made of the same stuff as his ideal, Balasaheb. He kept on making statements to attract media attention. He unleashed his hitherto unused goonda army to take on the mantle of the protectors of Marathi Asmita. All of this with the Maharashtra elections in mind.
A few taxis smashed, some hapless north Indians thrashed, allegations and accusations flying all across. Whatever happened to all those educated leaders of his party? Where did all the need to change the picture of Maharashtra politics go?
The unfortunate turn of events has disappointed a lot of people who had some faith in Raj Thackeray. But he got what he wanted. His statements and the media attention made him known nation-wide. And he spun another drama by provoking his own arrest.
Strangely, people in India still think that any politician who courts arrest is a revolutionary, a hero. And that's what Raj has become to all those who can't see beyond his inflammatory statements. He has successfully portrayed himself as the last remaining saviour of parochialism in Mumbai. Out on bail, he waved to his growing entourage of supporters, much like a film star. He even posed elegantly and triumphantly for the shutterbugs.
Thackeray has probably gained the votes of some parochial Maharashtrians. But he has lost all the people who hoped he was different. The hero, even before he became one, has become an anti-hero.
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Dear MadaM ,PLS. STUDY THE FOLLOWING EVERBURNING TOPICS TAKING IN VIEW THE PRESENT MARCH 2008 %26 GO IN THE PAST UPTO MARCH 1998 1.THE MUMBAI POPULATION ,2. MUMBAI TRAIN COMMUTERS WITH THE TRAUMA THEY FACED EVERYDAY 3. DIRTY STREETS OF MUMBAI ,THE DIRTY SLUMS,MUMBAI roads are used for making the livelyhood 4. MUMBAI is capital of maharashtra ,no value for MARATHI LANGUAGE AS WELL AS THE MARATHI PEOPLE 5. EVERGROWING MARATHI UNEMPLOYED YOUTH BOTH QUALIFIED %26 UNQUALIFIED, i might be gramatically incorrect but am sure you have got the message.now the ruling govt of maharashtra should take some drastic steps %26 make the mumbai as it was in MARCH 1998.REGARDS ...Reply
This is quite a nice blog on how a man bound to become an hero getting influenced by this wicked politics of the country.I would like to say this to all those who stabbed North Indians from Maharashtra.People its time to wake up we all are Indians wats wrong if he stays in south India or in North India it is his personal concern.Instead of pushing North Indians out kick all the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and all other Non Indians who are illegally staying in our own Backyard. ...Reply
Well I beg to differ on your claim the Mumbai was created by Parsees and Gujratis...Do you know that Mumbai was first inhabitated by kolis followed by Pathare Prabhua and then others followed...Do you know that Bhau cha Dhakka was constructed by a Maharashtrian so was Mahalaxnmi temple... It was the over all progress brought in by the early residing maharashtrians gave a firm base to other migrants for their own ventures...I am not at all against anybody and acknowledge the presence of all castes here but if you mean what you say then you are absolutely undermining the Maharashtrian contribution to the progress of Mumbai...And if these outstation students are so good why dont they stay in their own areas progress themselves as well as help in progress of their own regions...Please get your historical facts right and dont just go on golrified history...try to gain some knowledgeable facts if you want to make such controversial claims... ...Reply
Though I understand that some of the maharastrian people might have genuine frustration about the fact that the central and north indian states are not doing enough to retain its people and provide them with basic means of livelihood.But,one should also realize that it is not the fault of the poor %22bhaiyya%22 on the streets of Mumbai. Isn't he himself the victim? Why don't the goons go and hit the politicians who are responsible for this situation.Some of the persons participating in this blog are even against the north Indian people who have prospered after coming to Mumbai. I would just like to ask a few questions in this context;1. Shall all the successful Indians who went to foreign countries to seek fortunes, be beaten up, humiliated and deported back to India?2. Shall all the maharashtrians in the silicon valley (there is a claim in all the maharashtrian household to have atleast one child in the US, either as a computer guy or as his wife)be treated similar?3.Those who complain of losing out on opportunities, Could they show atleast 1 maharshtrian milkman who goes to deliver milk in the mumbai suburbs.4.How many of them choose to be carpenters?All the unemployed youth misled by the politicians, if they really want could find enough oppotunities in Mumbai if they look for them.Soon after these incidents erupted in Mumbai, I started to look for some basic information on Raj Thackarey and I came across some interesting speeches he has delivered as a new comer, particularly the one held in Shivaji park in 2006 (or was it 2007?). He sounded quite sensible,yet with the same firebrand characteristics of his uncle, Shri Thackeray Sr.He talked about need for educating the youth looking at the avilable job opportunities when they graduate and so on.I feel that Raj Thackarey has himself fallen prey to the dirty game of politics and even with the right credentials or potential to represent the Maharsahtrian Youth, has failed his state and country as a whole. ...Reply
Very crisply written, reminiscent of an impassioned edit piece in print. Almost like a eulogy to a hero who wasnt! Keep them coming! ...Reply
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