New Delhi, Nov 17 – Leaders from across Maharashtra’s political spectrum honored the late Balasaheb Thackeray, the man whose voice helped shape the state’s political map for decades. The day marked the anniversary of his death, and parties on all sides paused to remember the charismatic founder of Shiv Sena.
Thackeray carved his early career as a cartoonist in the 1950s, first for the Free Press Journal in Mumbai and later with the Japanese paper Asahi Shimbun and the New York Times’ Sunday edition. His sharp illustrations caught the eye of readers far beyond India’s borders.
In the 1960s, he turned his energy toward regional politics. Together with his brother, he published Marmik, a Marathi weekly that loudly spoke out against what Thackeray called the growing influence of outsiders from southern India and Gujarat. He argued that these newcomers were stealing jobs from local Marathi workers.
The next step came in 1966 when Thackeray founded Shiv Sena, a movement that championed “Maharashtra for Maharashtrians.” His cause was simple: protect local interests and jobs. Although he never held a public office or ran for election, Thackeray’s power was unmistakable. He earned nicknames like the “godfather of Maharashtra” and was revered by his followers as the “Hindu Hriday Samrat” (Heart of the Hindu).
Under his guidance, Shiv Sena pushed for an end to India’s constitutional secularism and advocated making Hinduism the state’s official religion. The party’s rise to power in the 1990s saw the city of Bombay officially renamed Mumbai, honoring the goddess Mumbadevi, a traditional Marathi name.
Thackeray’s speeches at Shivaji Park in Mumbai drew massive crowds. His address night was a highlight for supporters, and his personal charisma drew people together. He died on Nov 17, 2012, after a cardiac arrest, leaving a powerful legacy that still resonates in Maharashtra’s politics.
Today, many leaders paid tribute on social media. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde posted on X, “Saheb, your thoughts and memories are always in our hearts. Emotional tributes to the venerable #HinduHrudaySamrat #ShivSenaPramukh #Balasaheb_Thackeray on his death anniversary.” Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule also marked the occasion, saying, “Today is the death anniversary of Maharashtra’s beloved leader, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. On this occasion, my humble tributes to his memory.”
Thackeray’s words still echo in the streets of Mumbai, where his vision for a Maharashtra that serves its own people is remembered and debated. His life shows how one influential figure can shift a region’s political course, and his impact remains a touchstone for those who follow Shiv Sena’s path.
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