A leader is an individual who has followers. This is the simplest
definition of leadership known to me. Every society acts as a nursery of
leadership and influence in diverse ways. Sports, theatre, arts, education and industry
all provide great avenues for effective leadership to emerge and get acknowledged
by the society. However, the most visible and obvious platform for exemplary leadership
has always been politics and governance.
Today, a pioneer of one distinct brand of political
leadership in India takes his last journey. Balasaheb Keshav Thackeray has passed
away and with his passing, however, cliché it may sound, an era has certainly
ended. A cartoonist, a social reformer’s son, an activist and lastly a
political behemoth in Maharashtra has breathed his last. A larger than life
personality and a Godfather of sorts who claimed that his dictatorial iron fist
of leadership was needed for progress today lays silent.
The spirit of regionalism was ushered in through the ‘Samyukta
Maharashtra’ movement in the 1950’s. Prabodhankar Thackeray, balasaheb’s social
reformer father was an integral part of this movement. Balasaheb at the time,
was a cartoonist at the Free Press Journal, who had broken out to launch his
own newsletter ‘Marmik’ which fought against the growing influence of Gujaratis
and South Indians in Maharashtra. His father very passionately on a fine day in
1966 at Shivaji Park, launched him into mainstream politics by offering his “Bal”
meaning Son in Marathi for the service of Maharashtra. Shiv Sena, an aggressive
political outfit was thus born.
Some might say, he was an opportunist, who found a great
chance to tap into the anger seeped into public sentiment due to the communist
phase in Maharashtra through the 1960’s. Nehru died in 1964, Lal Bahadur
Shastri in 1966 and the Congress was headless in that phase of a suffering
economy full of stagflation. He instigated the support of the hoi polloi which
felt deprived of chances and opportunities to progress. He fought for quotas in
Government jobs for local youths. He
fought against the South Indians and later Gujaratis dominating the city of
Mumbai emerging as the true ‘Son of the soil’ or a ‘Pranti’ as he preferred to
call himself. He instilled in his people a sense of pride, who earlier felt
humiliated in their own land. Nobody dared refer to them as “Ghaatis” in their
own land post Shiv Sena’s ascent. His greatest gift perhaps to his people, was
their self-respect.
He took over the reins of the industrial labour unions and he
established his local network of ‘Shakhas’ which were local units / branches
responsible to carry forward the work and ideology right down to the grassroots
level. Post the Babri Masjid demolition
and the 1992 riots, his nuanced moves ensured that he got pitted as the “Hindu
Hriday Samrat” (The king of Hindu hearts) further propelling him as a perceived
strong Hindutva force in a strong alliance with the BJP. He was the Godfather
to Bollywood giving them protection against the increasing horrors of the
powerful Mumbai underworld. He stood behind a helpless father Sunil Dutt,
looking to get justice for his erratic movie star son Sanjay. This ability to
forge enduring relationship across party lines and ideologies is what truly
made him a remarkable paternal figure.
The turn of the millennium saw surging aspirations and
aspirations always lead to defections. He lost trusted lieutenants like Chagan
Bhujbal, Narayan Rane who left him to pursue their growing aspirations. His
biggest blow came when his own protégé, Raj Thackerary, his nephew, who he was extremely
close to and fond of broke away from the Shiv Sena to form his own outfit
called ‘Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.’ 2004 Assembly election loss, partially
crushed him, age did it’s thing too.
His appeal lied in the feudal concept of the rulers being
the protectors of the interest of the ruled. His spirit of nationalism was
unparalleled. His views were debatable, questionable and to some simply
unacceptable, still, there are not many leaders who spoke their mind with as
much conviction as him.
Legacy is a wonderful thing; it normally finds its deserving
owner. If it is unable to do so, it erodes a part of itself at the hands of its
creator. Balasaheb’s largest shortcoming some may say, is this ineffective
handover of his legacy.
It is ironic that historically, Indian political leadership
comes from two divergent ends of the ideological spectrum. The 'Servant
Leadership' of Gandhi or that of 'Constructive Violence' of Bal Thackeray. The
void in between the two is why this nation suffers. As I exercise my fingers
typing out this obituary, there are 2 million people crawling the streets of
Mumbai following their fallen leader. There’s this lingering line which
resurfaces in my memory from Julius Ceaser, when Antony says of Julius Ceaser, "Here was a Ceaser, When comes such another?"
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