The Tiger, the Roar and the Shor

Bal Keshav Thackeray.

Communal, divisive, incorrigible, chauvinistic, controversial, pseudo-demagogue, if you ask me. If anything, his name brings umpteen flashes of the times when news was all about violence caused by his “bullet-like words”. Hence, a violence citing orator as well.

As I watched the coverage of his funeral procession and cremation, I felt a slight twinge of dismay at the plight of his kith and kin. But when you snap out of the momentary influx of emotions, you see the legacy he has left behind.

The man began his political career in 1966, giving birth to Shiv Sena (Shiva – Shivaji’s – Army). The party with a Tiger as its brand logo, has been roaring all the way in Maharashtra – disregarding authorities and governance. It has been the unopposed, indisputable policy maker of the state. Over years, he advocated people taking law into their own hands if it suited their interests and were being denied so by the ruling government. A popular cartoonist, his single-point politburo before and throughout his career was “divide and rule”.

Verbally one of the most tactical, blunt yet candid men to have appeared on the political bench, he was well aware of his stature and mass appeal; what with his words leading to some horrific aftermaths. His party members have been accused of some heinous crimes – some proven, others conveniently brushed aside – none necessarily well accounted for. They did it all fearlessly, knowing that Balasaheb will shield them from every harm. And so he did. And everyone else knew. What’s worse is that despite all awareness, everything has and WILL continue in the same fashion.

Why the assertion you’d ask? Well, Google up. His oratory, however skilled, has left some everlasting hate and bias amongst the ‘Sainiks’. One that won’t be easily tamed.  Take for instance this arrest of two young women in Mumbai story. Their crime – protesting the bandh following his death due to the inconvenience faced my a majority of the residents, thanks to a minority of followers.

It’s an opinion for crying out loud. One that calls for logic over emotion, consideration over imposition. Not ARREST. You can’t do that to someone for voicing their grievances. Whatever happened to “Live and Let Live”? Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? Nothing. Because for Thackeray none of that existed.

Why quote just the arrest? His sentiments against Sikhs, Muslims, South Indians, North Indians, Dalits, Adivasis – anyone non Maratha – have been clearly stated time and again. Vandalized shops, trades, vehicles were successful results of his occasional speeches. Widespread chaos and fear created amongst people, was the norm of Shiv Sainiks. I’ve heard and read incidents dating back to 1970, 74, 82, 84, 86, 88, 93 all through 2008 and beyond. And it’s not unbelievable when someone claims that most of these were his personal biases. He just found a bunch of gullible people to put into actions, what he could express in words.

In all these violent incidents it’s not just the “outsiders’ who suffer, it’s the Sainiks themselves too. There’s not one side losing lives. All these people lunging at each other’s throats are usually from the working class. So the family of an “outsider” AND Sainik, suffer loss of their bread earners, in most situations. Lose – lose situation. But did he never ponder over this?

Doesn’t make him that much of a demagogue now, does it?

The news anchor, on this channel I was watching, was all gung-ho about Balasaheb’s “human side”. Yes, let’s idolize him in death – after the years of criticisms, let’s get down to critiquing. Because getting posthumous national honors makes him a nationalist hero now. How objective of our channels!

Anyways, I don’t dispute this “human touch” theory entirely. Everything said and done, he was just another human being – with family, friends, favorites et al. He was known to have bound his family together. But for reality’s sake, don’t glorify him. This disciplined follower-crowds, that the anchor wouldn’t stop harping about, was a day’s event. It doesn’t show any improvement in the lot. Doesn’t make him mahaan. Just impresses his popularity with the local community. That’s it. Don’t overlook his misdoings of 40 years for 7 hours worth of honor.

And if there is any truth to this human side that he possessed, shouldn’t his followers imbibe it and learn to swallow their pride and put the state at a higher pedestal?  If the state remained as he had wished, its economy would be stuttering by now. Fact is, all these people that he stood against contribute for not just a population statistic but also for economic strength.

His wit, sarcasm, and keen sense of observation were inspiring, they say. His interviews over the years seem to be in sync with that claim, so I’ll agree. He was raw, brutally honest– joh dil mein who zubaan pe, sometimes even amusing. But his negatives unfortunately outnumbered the positives. He has gone, sowing seeds of fascism amongst people. Makes India vulnerable to more unreasonable violence in the years to come.

I do believe he has left behind a relatively harsher legacy, even for a politician of this day and age. It’s not like other politicians in India command respect or admiration anymore. But some just invite passionate hate. He is sadly, one of those rare few.

(Pic courtesy : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bal-thackeray-dead-the-mascot-of-marathi-pride/1/229598.html)