Bal Keshav Thackeray, popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray, was an Indian politician, the founder and leader of the Shiv Sena, a right-wing Hindu nationalist political party in Maharashtra. He was an influential figure in Mumbai and Maharashtra politics, known for his charismatic leadership and his controversial stance on various issues concerning the state and the nation. Thackeray was born on January 23, 1926 in Pune, Maharashtra, to a Marathi family. His father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray was a renowned writer and social reformer who significantly influenced Bal Thackeray's upbringing and ideas.
Thackeray was raised in the city of Mumbai (then Bombay), where he completed his early education. He enrolled at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, where he studied drawing and animation. Although he was inclined towards art and sketching, he soon turned his attention to journalism. After completing his education, he joined the **Free Press Journal**, where he worked as a cartoonist. His sharp wit and sarcastic style gained him recognition, and it was during this time that he began to build his reputation as a leader with a keen eye on Mumbai's political and social landscape.In the early 1960s, Thackeray's political ideology began to take shape. At the time, Mumbai was undergoing significant demographic changes due to migrants, particularly those from South India, which Thackeray believed threatened the economic and social stability of Marathi-speaking people. This idea led him to form Shiv Sena in 1966, a political organisation aimed at serving the interests of native Marathi speakers and addressing their grievances, particularly the growing dominance of non-Marathi communities in the city.Thackeray's rhetoric was aggressive and often controversial, focusing on the rights of Marathi people, which resonated with a large section of the working class in Mumbai. Shiv Sena's popularity grew rapidly and it became a significant force in Maharashtra's political landscape. Through his aggressive campaigns and fiery speeches, Thackeray attracted a devoted following. His leadership also instilled a sense of pride among Marathi-speaking people, who felt marginalized by the growing influence of outsiders in their own city.In the early years, the Shiv Sena struggled to gain significant political power, but Thackeray's aggressive tactics began to have an impact on Mumbai's electoral politics. In 1968, the Shiv Sena entered the Mumbai municipal corporation elections and became the main opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC), which had long been the dominant political force in Maharashtra.Thackeray's political rise was marked by his ability to mobilize support by targeting different groups. He was known for his outspoken stance against South Indian immigrants, particularly Tamils and Gujaratis, accusing them of monopolising jobs in Mumbai. This divisive rhetoric helped consolidate his support base among Marathi-speakers, but it also made him a controversial figure in the eyes of many.During the 1970s and 1980s, Thackeray continued to expand Shiv Sena's influence. His party allied itself with other right-wing Hindu nationalist organizations, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also shared his vision of promoting Hindu interests. Thackeray's views were very similar to those of the Hindu right wing, advocating the protection of Hindu culture, traditions, and values.Under Thackeray's leadership, Shiv Sena gained significant importance in Maharashtra politics. In the 1990s, the party expanded its power and influence beyond Mumbai, and Thackeray was also able to participate in the formation of a Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra, although he himself never held the post of Chief Minister. His charisma and political skills enabled him to control the party, which became synonymous with his name. His political career reached its peak in the 1990s when Shiv Sena emerged as a major political player in the state.Bal Thackeray was a polarising figure in Indian politics, and his career involved many controversies. He was known for his inflammatory speeches, often inflaming communal tensions. He was a staunch critic of Muslims, particularly in relation to issues of religious identity and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya. Thackeray's views on the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and his subsequent support for the act were widely criticised. His speeches and actions were often accused of inciting violence, leading to charges of communalism. Thackeray was also known for his devotion to Hinduism and often spoke in favour of the Hindutva ideology. He expressed support for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and established himself as a leader.
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