Bala Saheb Thackeray as a Mass communicator.

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Balasaheb Thackeray was a Mass Communicator.

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Re: Bala Saheb Thackeray as a Mass communicator.

Bal Thackeray Biography

•Full name-Keshav Sitaram Thackeray
•Born- 23rd January,1926 in Pune in Bombay presidency , Death - 17th November, 2012 in Mumbai, Maharashtra
•Political Party- Shiv Sena
•Spouse- Mina Thackeray
•Permanent Address- Matoshree Bandra (east)
•Main office of the Shiv Sena Bhavan- Shiv Sena Bhavan Dadar, Mumbai- 400023
•Children- Bindumadhav Thackeray,Jaidev Thackeray,Uddhav Thackeray
•Nephew- Raj Thackery
•Position- Founder and Chief of the Shiv Sena

There is one politician in the country that has made a name for himself without the backing of political manadate and public office. He has been a commander of what he calls the Army of Shiv for almost four decades old. He has never contested for an election, never served in office as a minister yet the mandate that commands is far stronger and runs deeper than any other political party. With conviction and firm resolve in his ideas he has conducted himself as a leader of the masses . But at the same time he also drawn flak for his comments and demagogue that have incited change and at the same time also been a cause for serious thought. He also stands out as one of the most influential mass communicators of our time.

Bal Thackery Thackeray Early life- Keshav Sitaram Thackeray was born into a humble Marathi middle class family. He father Keshav Thackeray also known as Prabodankar Thackeray ( the pen name for his editorials’ in Prabodhan ) was a progressive social activist and leader in the Samyukt Maharashtra Chalwal (unified Maharashtra Movement).The movement rallied to form the Marathi speaking state of Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital. Bal Thackeray started his career as cartoonist in the Press Free Journal in the 1950’s. He worked alongside RK. Laxman who was senior to Thackeray. He cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of the Times of India. His cartoons highlighted the situation of the times and were hard-hitting and clear in messages without the use of metaphors. They were sharp and fire brandish in nature. In 1960 he launched his own cartoon weekly with his brother Marmik. He was the first to campaign against the migrant issues in particular against the Gujarati and the south Indian workers.

Bal Thackeray Political Career- With the support of his father he started the political party Shiv Sena on the 14th of June 1966. His intention was simple safeguarding the rights of the Marathis in the state with the objective of job security and competing against the migrants. Politically the Sena was against the concept of Communism and exercised control over the major trade unions in the state. In the 1989 he started his open publication and mouthpiece for the party called Saamna. For the benefit of Hindi readers to he started a newspaper called the Doopahar Ka Saamna. In the start of the 1990’s the Shiv Sena aligned itself against the BJP who shared the similar ideology of Hindu national.
The Shiv Sena BJP won the assembly elections of 1995 in an emphatic manner. During the Sena BJP tenure in office Balasaheb controlled all the actions and policies of government so much so that he was named the remote control of the government. On 26th July, 1998 he was banned from voting in any constituency following till December 10th 2005.

However the ban was revoked in 2005 and he voted for the first time in 2006. Thackeray has claimed that the Shiv Sena has helped the Marathi manoos (the Marathi commoner) in Mumbai and also fought for the rights of Hindu people; Thackeray is a staunch Hindu and believes that Hindus must be organized to struggle against those who oppose their identity and religion.

Bal Thackery Personal Life- Bal Thackery married his wife Meena and many believed her to be the force behind the party and its functioning. So much so that many believe that the party’s decline started post her death following a heart attack in September of 1995. Every time Thackeray insulted any member of his inner circle, Meenatai would soothe his nerves and ensure that he stayed on in the party. She did not interfere with Thackeray’s politics, but brought that homely touch to party affairs, said sources. She was hailed as the divine force behind the working of the party. She was a mother to the Shiv Sainiks.

His elder son Bindumadhav ("Binda") died as a result of bike accident on the 20th April 1996. His son Uddhav is the executive chairperson of the party while his grandson is the president of the Yuva Sena the youth wing of the party. His nephew is Raj Thackeray who split from the party to form his own party the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena following the differences. Of late the Shiv Sena chief has been suffering from pale health and recently admitted in the hospital after complaining of breathlessness .

Bal Thackery Quotes-
?Comment - “ There is no reason for us to harbor anger against Salman. His family is nationalist and patriotic in true sense.”
?On Sania’s marriage decision-“Henceforth, Sania will not remain an Indian. Had her heart been Indian, it wouldn't have beaten for a Pakistani.”
?Comments on Mumbai-“Mumbai has been made into a dharamshala. The only way to stop the influx of migrants is to start a permit system to impose curbs on those coming here.”
?Sachin getting the Bharat Ratna- “ Hundred crore people of this country have already crowned Sachin as Bharat Ratna.”
?On Smita Thackeray –“ Who is Smita (Thackeray)? I don't know her and has she got any followers in the Sena?”
?Criticizing Sachin-“ You left your usual ground and entered the political arena and you said everyone in India has an equal right over Mumbai. Sachin, hearing these words, the Marathi heart is torn. What was the need to say this? What was the need to fuel the migration into Mumbai? While speaking of Marathi pride why did you have to take "cheeky single" by bringing in Mumbai? You have been run out from the pitch of the Marathi heart.”
?Racial attacks- “ Two things should be done immediately. Captains of Australian companies who have invested in India should be summoned and told that the business atmosphere would not be conducive till the attacks stopped. Secondly, Australian players in IPL teams should be removed. Team owners like Vijay Mallya, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta should display nationalism by doing so.”
?On Amitabh Bachchan-“ What Amitabh did was right. He did not stop at registering his protest through mere words but conveyed to the University of Queensland that the attacks against Indians Down Under were an insult of all his countrymen.”

Bal Thackeray Controversies- In 2002, Thackeray issued a call to form Hindu suicide squads to counter alleged Muslim violence: If such suicide squads are formed only then can we take on perpetrators of mindless violence then there is a need to counter this violence in such a manner . Most of Thackeray editorials have the cause of controversy. In February 2010, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's film My Name Is Khan was opposed by Bal Thackeray and his party members for the former's remarks supporting cultural interaction between Indians and Pakistanis help build friendly relations between the two nations. He has had a contrasting view on Muslims.

At time he has been vocal about his criticism one such comment was '"They [Muslims] are spreading like a cancer and should be operated on like a cancer. The... country should be saved from the Muslims and the police should support them [Hindu Maha Sangh] in their struggle just like the police in Punjab were sympathetic to the Khalistanis.” At the same time he has also expressed admiration towards them for their support like after the Train blasts in 2007. Thackeray has also been known for his demining comments towards the North Indians stated that they ate and spat in the same plate. He also criticsed a major holiday through his editorial in the Saamna. He again attracted controversy for his admiration of the most notorious and feared German dictator Hitler.

He remarked that Hitler did very cruel and ugly things. But he was an artist, I love him (for that). He had the power to carry the whole nation, the mob with him. You have to think what magic he had. He was a miracle.... The killing of Jews was wrong. But the good part about Hitler was that he was an artist. He was a daredevil. He had good qualities and bad. I may also have good qualities and bad ones. However he renounced his comments in another interview. On February 14, 2006, Balasaheb Thackeray condemned and apologized for the violent attacks of Shiv Sena members upon a private Valentine's Day celebration in Mumbai. 'It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice', Thackeray said, 'I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed.

In 2006 he criticized that he would not allow the Pakistani team to play the final in India during an ICC tournament. He was critical of the recent Mumbai rioting "While 26/11 happened all of a sudden, Saturday's violence happened right under the nose of the city police. Those who held south Mumbai to ransom are not just miscreants, they are anti-national Muslims. However, it is unfortunate that the police did nothing to control the crisis.""The office of the police commissioner is barely 100 steps away from the place where the Muslim youths went on the rampage. They took away weapons from policemen, molested women, assaulted innocent citizens and torched public vehicles. Yet the police did nothing. Their bullets turned into chocolates.

Bal Thackeray Speech- He has been known for his firebrand speeches . He is one of the most powerful orators and his message on Dussera is still awaited with fervor and are a ritual that if followed to this day.

Bal Thackeray Latest news-The lion, mass communicator, politician and moreover the man with immense self conviction fought its final battle to very end before breathing his last. He passed away at the age of 86 in his residence in Mumbai. His death was officially confirmed by the doctor treating him. He suffered a heart attack and passed away at 3.33 pm sharp in the afternoon. Mr. Thackeray has been unwell since July and was admitted to the Lillavati Hospital for breathlessness and constipation. He was under the constant supervision of doctors stationed at his home.
Love or hate him Balasaheb Thackery cannot be neglected