The tiger roared, and roared he did for 46 years till his political career rang. Little did anyone know what he was like, those closest to him believed in him and those following him followed him with blind eyes. Some said he was bad some worshipped him like god. The dilemma of his being evil or good sprang again after his passing away. While I sit writing this article I am just amazed at the fact that how little I knew about the man who transformed ‘Bombay’ into ‘Mumbai’ and whose raising hand could stop the entire city within minutes. The raiser of ‘Hindutva’ and the signature ‘Bhagwa’ “read orange” color himself was a man of conviction and lover of art.
A cartoonist and a keen speaker he raised to fame with his speeches and curt remarks about fellow political parties and men. His bold statements and bolder courage earned him the title of ‘protector of Hindutva’ and ‘Tiger’. Even those fellow men appraised him and heard his voice. This arises questions in minds whether it was fear or respect. The answer that many will give is, ‘respect out of fear’. But does respect out of fear lasts for 4 decades or after the human being passes away. The answer is simply difficult to evaluate. But in the case of our Tiger it did, not only for 4 decades but even after he died. The crowd accumulated on the streets to bid him farewell is the sign of that respect. Comparing his fear and his respect does not entitle to any decision. Putting aside everything that we have heard about him, about his evil doings or wrong doings. The man had courage, courage to stand against the corrupt political system of the country. He always stood by his word, his speech about being a ‘Maratha’ when in ‘Maharashtra’ and a ‘Hindu’ when in ‘Hindustan’ was what he believed in. His life was devoted for the cause of raising the ‘Hindu Dharma’ flag and keeping its prestige at high. His classic endeavors against different communities brought him under scanner and caused unrest in people’s heart against him. But every time the city was under a threat he stood tall and high and his army guarded the borders of the city or so to say. Being born in the then Bombay when I first heard about him in my childhood, I thought of him as a soldier against the evil and protector of humanity, a guardian angel. Growing up I heard a lot about him, the changing of Bombay to Mumbai, the different gimmicks to stay in motion, his speeches, his aristocracies in hosting guests and celebrities alike, his love for art and his appraisals for culture. His ideology that he expressed in his editorial “Samna” is read by thousands in the city. He always had views about everything, be it politics, cricket, films, or any other event. He voiced his opinions and dictat’s about everything. His way of communication was through the media that was read by all his followers. The dictat’s that he passed in the “Samna” became laws and rules by which his army worked and religiously abided by it.
He resembled what Don Corleone was in the Godfather. Helping people coming to him in difficult times. One thing that no one can deny was that he was the most accessible person in the entire political system. If anyone had a problem, he could easily find his way in front of the tiger; the tiger would then roar and solve the common man’s problems. His roar was sounder than the roar of a real tiger, his picture along with the picture of a tiger is very well known or every one living in Mumbai. His draping’s of orange, shaded glasses on his eyes, a wine glass in right and a cigar in the left hand was always his classic look. The tiger sure had style. He was the only political figure who would never hide his wine and cigar from the media. He was occasionally clicked with these in the frame. I know this is not something enough to respect the man. I do not tell anyone to respect him for what he was, I am under a confusion scanner to respect him or hate him. I can’t do either, for one I was not in personal touch to the man to decide upon his character and secondly all I have ever heard about him was what the media said or showed. I respect the man for his courage and outspoken nature and hate him for the fear he induced in the common man’s heart. His legacy is gone by his passing away, the era which he ruled will never be experienced by anyone else. The generations to come will only be able to hear about a man called “Balasaheb Thackeray”. But I consider living through the era with his mighty power is something to be worth experiencing. What is to be learned is that, one single man with his voice could control thousands of his followers. One single raised hand was enough to cause unrest in the entire city or for that matter entire state. One single word “Thamba” brought the entire crowd to a standstill. Was it the voice of that person or the ideology of that person that made him gods to Thousands? That answer will offcourse bring different views and opinions and I don’t want either.
I leave the views and opinions to you people.
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