Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray formally introduced his grandson Aditya Thackeray into politics at the Dussehra rally on Sunday by presenting him a sword. Aditya, however, had announced his entry much before that by demanding — and obtaining — the removal of Rohinton Mistry’s acclaimed novel Such a Long Journey from
Mumbai University’s curriculum. It was the perfect launch for the newest Thackeray to assure Sena supporters that he was ready to carry on the quintessential “my way or the highway” legacy.
The controversy
Aditya led a Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena delegation that demanded the withdrawal of Mistry’s 1990 Booker-nominated novel from Mumbai University’s BA syllabus. Aditya’s objection was that abusive language had been used in the book against the Marathi manoos, the dabbawallas and his grandfather.
The Mumbai University immediately obliged and issued a circular earlier this month withdrawing the book from the curriculum. There were widespread protests by the intellectuals against the University’s action. However, vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar stood by his decision. He said no one in the University management had even read the book before including it in the curriculum.
Later, even the dabbawalas thanked the Sena for forcing the withdrawal of the book. Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan also supported the decision saying that the book used abusive language which was not fit to be taught in a curriculum. Clearly, Aditya had made a grand entry.
Intellectuals may like it or not, but Sena supporters are going to love it, that the newest Thackeray is as authoritative as his seniors. People listen when he speaks.
Political observer Pratap Asabe also agreed that the book controversy has only helped Aditya’s political launch. “It was the perfect issue and in accordance with the Sena’s agenda. It involved the Marathi manoos plank and it was handled in typical Sena style. A demand was made aggressively and was accepted immediately. That is the kind of leadership that the aggressive Sena supporters want,” Mr Asabe said.
The initiation ritual
Aditya did not arrive in politics out of the blue. The process began three years ago, in December 2007 when he attended his first political event along with his father, Uddhav. Since then, he has been frequently seen at his father’s rallies and conferences. In August 2009, Aditya met the then governor S.C. Jamir seeking his intervention in the teachers’ strike that was going on for over a month. From then on, he has been working on issues related to education.
Aditya is to head the newly formed Yuva Sena, which will also be the umbrella organisation for the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena. His primary responsibility will be to bring youth in the 18-25 age group into the Sena’s fold. This age group has deserted the Sena after Raj Thackeray’s departure.
The last Lok Sabha and assembly election results proved that the majority of youth below the age of 25 had accepted Raj Thackeray as their leader and voted for his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The rest seem headed towards Rahul Gandhi.
For the Sena, Aditya represented the TINA (there’s no alternative) factor. It did not have any face to attract the below-25 age group, which resulted in the party giving its worst performance in the elections. The Sena leadership expects Aditya to fill this vital gap.
He is a fourth generation Thackeray entering public life. His great grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray was one of the leaders of Samyukta Maharashtra. His grandfather formed the Shiv Sena, which his father has now taken over.
Aditya’s father Uddhav Thackeray entered politics in the nineties. “Uddhav was not seen at political functions till the ’90s. He became active in politics only after the Shiv Sena-BJP government came to power in 1995,” Mr Asabe said.
Uddhav remained a prominent figure in the Sena. Bal Thackeray formally appointed him as the party’s executive president five years ago.
Thackeray launch pads
Thackerays don’t always enter politics with thunder and bluster as Aditya did. In his early days, Uddhav took the soft approach and tried to play inclusive politics. He launched the “Mee Mumbaikar” campaign, which was meant to attract all people living in Mumbai to the Shiv Sena. He also used Sanjay Nirupam to attract North Indians to the Sena. He started the Uttar Pradesh Diwas, which even UP does not celebrate, and promoted the Chhat Puja.
Uddhav, however, was forced to change his policies by Raj Thackeray’s aggressive stance.
Raj has been active in politics since college. He headed the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, which used to be the Sena’s backbone under Raj’s leadership. But he didn’t do much for the Sena student wing.
When Raj launched the MNS in 2006, he did not make any immediate impact. He used green, blue and saffron colours in the party’s flag, suggesting he, too, wanted to pursue inclusive politics. His party could not influence the results of civic elections in Mumbai in 2007.
It was only in 2008 that Raj started his first agitation against north Indians, and won a lot of supporters. His men beat up youth from Bihar who had come for an all-India railway exam. Since then, the MNS has completely hijacked the Sena’s Marathi agenda. And anything that Raj does, Uddhav tries to do better as both try to grab Marathi followers. This often leads to violence and roughing up of citizens.
Like his uncle, Aditya has also gotten into active politics as a teenager. Apart from the Thackeray legacy, he has many factors in his favour. The Sena is today a massive organisation that has its network in Maharashtra’s urban as well as rural areas. He will have his grandfather and father as mentors. Funds won’t be an issue. In short, he will have all the ammunition he needs to take on MNS’s Raj Thackeray and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra.
Ironically, though, his success will largely depend on whether he has the charisma and oratory of his uncle. And on this will hinge the Shiv Sena’s future.