So close yet so far meeting Bal Thackeray face to face

I still regret about the only chance destiny had given me to see and meet the Shivsena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. No I am not a big fan of his that I would do anything to meet him, but still no one would be a fan of Dawood Ibrahim or for that matter our Prime Minister but would be interested to meet them if given an opportunity.

It was the case with me, opportunity was provided, as I had to cover an assignment of interviewing Suhas Khamkar a body builder from Mumbai who had won gold at Mr. Asia Championship. Fortunately he was a Sena fan and decided to visit Matoshree after coming to Mumbai. I along with my photographer were waiting outside Matoshree at Bandra and we had planned to get in with them as individually we would not have been allowed.

And then was the moment, I had entered Matoshree with my photographer after Suhas Khamkar's car went in. Many people haven't had this opportunity even after two to three year of their journalistic career but I was living it in the first six months of my career. After getting in I was talking to Suhas as he was waiting for the boss' call to meet him at his room on the second floor.

But then an incident that would make me regret for I don’t know how much time to come took place. As everyone was leaving a security guard told me to wait down and I like a stupid followed his suggestion/advice/order whatever it was...........

I was in two minds whether to go or no after everyone left, I even went to the first floor but then returned to my original place thinking that this is my first visit to the place and I must do whatever ordered.

I thought about it and forgot it, but as I reached office my seniors and colleagues made me feel like I have done a grave error and I should have called them or even the photographer to go upstairs. It was then that I had realized that this was an error and I could easily have got a page one story and some questions with Balasaheb Thackeray

This was the small journey of my opportunity and the missed chance that will haunt me for a long time. Again I would like to clarify that I am not a big fan of his, in fact I am a critic but it would have been great if I had met him.

Like Father Unlike Son totally unlike Grandson

Caste based politics is the mantra of modern day India. Well in this blog I would only concentrate on Maharashtra and specifically one particular family who proclaim to be the savior of Maharashtra. Till then all of you who has been in Mumbai for a week also would have come to know I am talking about the beloved Thackeray Family.

Firstly let’s take a look at the influential Political Family Tree of the Thackerays.

Prabhodan Thackeray, a father to Bal Thackeray and Shrikant Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray son of Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, son of Shrikant Thackeray.

Sitram Keshav Thackeray also known as Prabhodhankar Thackeray was a prominent leader in the formation of the state of Maharashtra during late 1950s. As per Raj Thackeray’s website he became a stringent critic of religious conformism and launched an attack on malpractices like tonsuring widows, untouchability and practice of dowry. He fought for people without giving a damn about their caste or religion. He would have never thought that his offspring would bring such a shame to his name.

Let’s take a look at all of them what they believe and what they do in the contemporary scenario. His son the infamous self proclaimed king of Maharashtra Mr. Balasaheb Thackeray is opposite to him in more than one manner. First of all is the formation of his party Shiv Sena, which is totally based on Hindutva, a religion. The base of the part is a religious discrimination and he and his men have done a variety of activities ranging from a igniting violence against the Muslims to encouraging Hindu Suicide bombers to dividing the people as per their castes. The agitations against South Indians, demanding money from Gujarati and Marwari businessmen and recently the fight against the North Indians. The latter is again a disputed territory with is very own nephew Raj Thackeray. Raj Thackeray the name has become synonymous to “Goondagardi” in the past two years or so in Mumbai. Threats, breaking glass windows of the buses and threatening the companies to use Marathi language in every work has become his fashion. This has helped in only creating a feeling of hatred divisions amongst the citizens towards a particular community.

I think both these uncle and nephew should take a look at their father and grandfather respectively and take a page out of his book about what is actual social responsibility and how to fight for the betterment for the society and not against it. Today both of them are fighting for the pride of Marathi Manoos and have totally forgotten what the real issues are. None of them have ever tried to provide a proper solution to Farmer’s suicide in Vidarbha, water scarcity almost throughout the state and lack of electricity becoming a grave threat worst day by day.

The aggressive brand of politics by these men has only brought disrepute to the state and the city and has just aggravated the problems instead of solving it. I hope people understand their selfish reasons and stop supporting them immediately.

Who the Hell are these Moral Policemen?????????

Have you ever thought that you will be stopped and threatened if you are walking with your girl friend or wife or even sister on the road? It sounds like this wont happen in a democratic country like India. But if you are thinking the same please think twice. Today if anyone can enter a pub and beat the youngsters who just go there for socializing then the roads are not too far away.

The incident that took place on 24 Jan 2009 was a slap on the face of the Indian democracy. Around forty men entered a pub in Mangalore and started assaulting physically the boys as well as the girls. Five girls were molested and beaten literally by these so called self appointed moral police. The goons of Sree Ram Sena attacked the pub in the bright day light and their atrocities were captured live on camera. More than a week has passed and different set of politicians and bureaucrats have sung a completely different line. So much so that they have issued a case against the pub saying hat it didn’t had licenses. The plea of the victims has been totally avoided and the question of who has given them the right has been left unanswered.

If this is something less than we have our own set of moral polices in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena. They have some problems with young couples celebrating the Valentine’s Day. In the past there have been incidents where they have man handled the young couples and in some cases forced them to marry each other or the girl is forced to tie a Rakhi on the guy’s wrist. This might be so very embarrassing and frustrating for anyone to do.

Ashok Ghelot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan says that he wants to ban the mall culture where girls and boys go hand in hand. Some one please tell him that the major business of the malls runs on these youngsters and not on the senior citizens like them.

Today the pubs, tomorrow it will be the malls, next the coffee shops and finally the roads. In short they want to convert a free and liberal India to an old fashioned one and want to curb the freedom of the youth in the name of Hindu culture and traditions. If their wishes are accomplished then there will be a taboo on people of opposite sexes walking together. Is this the free India we wanted? Does this idea stand relevant in today’s era? Isn’t it time up for these old politicians to step aside with their old bunch of rigid ideas?