Raj Thackeray
Over the course of some three hundred odd years, the British gave a lot to India. They gave us the Railways, Post and Telegraph, Cricket, Tea, Movies. They gave us the English language, which was going to come in handy in the twenty first century to help India become the world’s back office. They gave us a united India, like this gentleman on the TV series ‘The Story of India’ confidently proclaimed. Apparently without the British there would have been no India to fret over.
Their greatest act of kindness was leaving us with a democratic form of government.
A form of government where votes are supreme. By hook or by crook. By manipulation or coercion. Whatever the means, the ends of power justify them. So much so that anybody can say anything, or do anything, and as long as that person has influence over a couple dozen voters, no harm can befall him. As a result, we have created demi-gods out of petty thugs who do not deserve to see the light of sun, for they should be locked away in dungeons, lest they eat into the fabric of the already sensitive society.
The game is to get a foot in, inspire the masses, become a public figure and eventually make a few crores of scandal money towards a retirement fund. Often this involves dividing the society by religion, language, region, city, height, weight, gender, shape of mustache and what have you. To their credit, its a very imaginative occupation.
Today we discuss one such great mind who has been busy ridding the world of all evil, and Mumbai of north Indians.
Raj Thackeray has been proudly running an anti-north India campaign in Maharashtra. The premise is that Uttar Pradesh is a den of terrorism and Azamgarh is where all criminals come from, so all people from UP (and Bihar) are criminals, and are not Manhoos Manoos enough to reside in Maharashtra. That’s Mr Robin Hood for you. How very graceful, logical, and full of selfless love for his state.
If these people have their way, we would not be citizens of India, but just representatives of our state, region, religion, or caste, on a mission to establish supremacy over everyone else, through mostly violent means.
Is this the India that Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Bhagat Singh, and Subhash Chandra Bose gave their lives for? These great men of varied methodologies dreamt of a united, free India. Did they waste their lives so that criminals in the garb of politicians get to vomit all over the constitution?
Ending a long break, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has resumed his virulent campaign against North Indians describing Uttar Pradesh as a ‘den of terrorism’ and accusing the state’s Chief Minister Mayawati and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of doing caste politics.[link]
Caste politics? Regional politics? Is there any difference?
Sure we live in a democracy and have the freedom to do anything we like. But who gave these people the right to take the law in their hands, and beat up Biharis at railway stations? What happened to Gandhi’s silly little concept of Ahimsa?
A large number of Biharis, who returned from Mumbai recently for Chhat puja, complained that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists assaulted them at the Kalyan railway station. And even the Government Railway Police drove them away when they tried to lodge complaints.
Arjun Rai, one of the victims, said, “When our train reached Kalyan station, several slogan-shouting MNS activists entered our compartment, carrying hockey sticks, iron rods and other arms. They started asking the identity of the passengers. When they found that we were Biharis retuning home, they started beating us.”[link]
If this is the example that Maharashtra is going to present to the rest of India, then we are headed for the dark ages. For no nation can prosper as a divided house.
Today the world is opening up, and we are getting our minds and thoughts clobbered by people such as Raj Thackeray. Mr Thackeray and his Nazi brigade only has one nation, and it is their great Maratha nation. What they don’t realize is that in isolation, Maharashtra will dry up. There will be no trade and commerce. There will be no Kashmiri apples or Punjabi wheat. There wont be any coal from Bihar to run their power plants. The tourism industry will suffer.
Very soon Tamilians will start beating up Bengalis. Bengalis will start beating up Punjabis. Gujaratis will start beating up everybody else. Nothing good is going to come out of the misguided sense of nationalism of MNS and their crazed out junkies.
Here’s the latest gem:
Local MNS activist Rajendra Deshmukh has warned the owner of Karachi Sweets to remove his signboards within 10 days or face the wrath of MNS.
It will hurt Maharashtrian and Indian sentiments if the owner refuses to do so. Why stick to the old Pakistani name,’ Shinde added.
Instead of assuring protection, the local police has asked the shop owner to change the name of the shop to ‘Mumbai Sweet House’. [link]
At least they got something right. They figured out the way to teach Pakistan a lesson for the Mumbai attacks.
We all feel proud of the apparent growth that India is undergoing. The huge GDP growth rates. The IT exports. The overseas acquisitions. For this to continue, we need to have our house in order. We need to stay India, not UP, Bihar, or Maharashtra.
Men like Raj Thackeray will keep doing their thing. They may try to lead us off the path we chose and wish to pursue. It is our job to overcome the jingoistic tendencies and respect each other. Killing others for their language, religion, or caste may be an easy way to vent our frustrations, but will not help.
India’s greatness strength never was homogeneity. It is the masala mix of our society that makes us so different from the rest of the world. Once that goes away, it will no be an India anymore.
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January 26th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Wow, first of all, the verbal ornamentation of the post is incredible. You surely sew the thoughts into your diction.
The story if India, last part, mentioned that when Britishers needed to do census in India, they divided/categorized people on the basis of some factors. The one on the top of the list was religion and then region, language…. So was it them who sowed the seeds or does it go back even further.
Inhibiting an Indian from going anywhere in India is not accepted. Also may be television channels should start airing “Ek Anek” video again. Some people need to see it and learn the basics again.
Somehow I always use recall “Sarkar”(the movie) when I heared of Thackeray’s…..but the reason and approach of AB’s character does not seem to go along anymore.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Fabulous stuff, AD.
Although I believe you got one thing wrong. Raj Thackeray is a regionalist, not a nationalist. I’m certain all he wants from Marathis is votes and it’s ideal time to cash in on the Mumbai attacks. A Marathi voter will look to an non-Marathi and say “See, Raj does care for India.” after listening to his speech. This is more likely to happen.
Because, i saw his Thane speech. And he stated that the NSG comes from Delhi and there is no north-Indian angle in it, hence almost showing no sympathy for the NSG commandoes who died. What a shame! What a man!!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:38 am
“Is this the India that Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Bhagat Singh, and Subhash Chandra Bose gave their lives for? These great men of varied methodologies dreamt of a united, free India. Did they waste their lives so that criminals in the garb of politicians get to vomit all over the constitution?”
AD, I hate to say this, but the answer is yes!
Quirky Indian
January 27th, 2009 at 2:04 am
I have heard the same theme in so many different ways…. Tamil Nadu doesnt want any Kannadigas or Malayalis coming in, Delhites dont want Madarasis coming in, Karnataka doesnt want Maratis, tamilians or malayalis coming in… funnily the instigators of such thoughts and ideas dont seem to get that there arent any Marathas, Guptas, Cheras, Pandyas, Pallavas Kingdoms in existence anymore….Think they slept through the history class?
January 27th, 2009 at 4:07 am
Democratic form of government? This one is kind of sliperly turf, an illusuion of democracy yes, as most of India is atill ruled by Gandhis’.
Raj Thackeray is neither regionalist, nor a nationalist. Raj Thackeray the moron, Kalank(Hindi mein). Disease can be treated only if we stand together and not in rat packs or North Indians, South Indians, even worst statewise, these politicians know this and make use of it, remember Brits also gave us divide and rule.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:20 am
The cure must be found fast before the disease does any more harm.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
@Amlistening: Thanks for a generous compliment!
I guess the Brits did sow the seeds for the hatred, but for now we have only ourselves to blame for the mess. And yes, airing the ek-anek video on TV might be a good idea.
@Trailblazer – Thanks.
By nationalist, i was referring to his sense of the Maratha nation. Regionalism comes from a misplaced sense of narrow nationalism. If such idiots had their way, India would get split into 25 countries instead of states. Kashmiris, Naxalites, ULFA – these are all pseudo-nationalistic movements seeking independent states. Which sucks.
@QI – Yes, unfortunately that is the answer!
@Mysoul – Good point. It is sad that people are becoming so narrow minded and intolerant of each other. Funnily enough, some of those great emperors of the past were quite tolerant of other communities, and people coexisted much better in medieval times. So why not now? Is this what all the socio-economic progres taught us?
@Chirag – Welcome to Amreekandesi!
I share that sentiment about the Gandhis. Someday we need to move out of the shadow of that family. And kalank is exactly the word that should be used to describe these people out to destroy the country.
@Reema – Very true!
January 28th, 2009 at 2:05 am
[...] Raj Thackeray [...]
January 30th, 2009 at 7:29 am
A very well-worded, thought-provoking post. It never ceases to amaze me that there is no filtering process for our politicians whatsoever. We need educated, liberal, young blood up there to lead our country, and reform is never easy. Sigh.
PS: There is something more the Brits gave us – an India mercilessly broken into India and Pakistan.
January 31st, 2009 at 2:20 am
@Shivya – Thanks for the appreciation! Yes, unfortunately the system of equal opportunity hasnt quite worked out very well for India. Maybe we should start requiring at least a minimum educational level, and criminal checks.
But then that might rule out quite a few of our top leaders
January 31st, 2009 at 11:31 am
I really don’t know what to write here. Everything is so wrong. Mentally retarded people are ruling us and defining norms for us. The government won’t do anything unless something goes terribly wrong…which means unless someone dies. Maybe, then also nothing would be done because Raj and his goons are required during elections.
I think, the freedom fight was all in vain….we never deserved that freedom.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:13 am
[...] Thackeray: This moron stand for everything I know to be wrong, and I am not alone, and what you do about it, nothing help him advance his agenda and have a [...]
February 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
No comment but maaaaaaan, what a gorgeous looking dog!!!!!!!!!!!
February 15th, 2009 at 2:37 am
@My3 – Are you sure you find the dog gorgeous?
March 30th, 2009 at 12:34 am
[...] Raj Thackeray revived his anti north India campaign at an election rally in Nashik, and was subsequently booked [...]
September 27th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Yo Amrikeen Dooooshi,,,Now anybody who comes from the land of “beggers,Slaves and Bihari Bhikaris, the lawless, the goons, the guns, the rapes, the socially inept, retarded, every shape and form animals come from these two socially backward states.
(Lot of hateful crap that had to be moderated)
Maharashtra is not Bihar or UP. Go read the Indian constitution, states were created on the basis of regions that’s why we have a republic. Bhaiyyas have no special rights to impede upon the rights of others. You are not going to come to our state and do illegal things. You will get the Marathi style treatment.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
@Sunil: when Mumbai was under siege on 26/11, you and Raj Thackeray were probably hiding under the bed with the cockroaches. It was bhaiyyas from North who came and brought down the terrorists.
If you are more comfortable with living in the past, shoot yourself in the head, because time is not going to retrace its steps to suit your paranoia.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@Amreekandesi:
How can you be sure that Suneil is not an Islamist hiding under Hindu name and posting messages which provoke hatred among Hindus based on region.
You should do better job at moderating messages on your group.
Do you not know that Raj Thackeray (and Chiranjeevi in Andhra Pradesh) is a congress stooge whose goal is to split anti-congress votes.
If you want further explanation why do you think Congress stooges in media give so much airtime to Raj Thackeray whose only achievement so far is his surname.
Why don’t they give the same kind of airtime to Gopinath Munde, Nitin Gadkari and Uddhav Thackeray when they wield much more influence in state politics.
Why do you think Congress lets him get away with such anti-muslim rhetoric whereas any BJP and SS members will be crucified for any insinuation of anti-minority attitude?
September 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
@Amreekandesi:
Are you sure Suneil and Sabihur Rahman are not different persons. Check the IP address from which the 2 comments originated.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
@Ashok – No they are not. Why would you say that?
@Sabihur – I agree with you, and wonder what exactly they are trying to do through these very violent acts of misplaced nationalism.
No good can come of trying to divide the country, except for a few extra seats in parliament!
October 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
ok so all the posts are gud
November 11th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
[...] always messing up the grammar?) and very vile piece of hate mail that i received following a recent piece on Raj [...]
November 12th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Did the British give everything for free? Out of kindess? Out of their pocket? Everything was built with Indian money. Please consider the following points
1) Annual revenue reported by the Emperor Aurangzeb’s exchequer exceeded £100 million in 1700 (twice that of Europe then). Thus, India emerged as the world’s largest economy, followed by Manchu China and Western Europe.
2) An estimate by Angus Maddison, formerly of Groningen University, reveals that India’s share of the world income went from 24.4% in 1700, comparable to Europe’s share of 23.3%, to a low of 3.8% in 1952.
Source: Wikipedia
Similarly your idea of a united India is also flawed. India was always united at least culturally. Don’t you know about the Maurya Empire? Even the name Bharat is thousands of years old and includes all of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
If north Indians in Mumbai had learned Marathi, respected local culture and adapted to the local culture there would have been no opportunity for Raj Thackeray’s goons. Why north Indians don’t do that?
November 12th, 2009 at 5:01 am
North Indians say the NSG commandos who fought in Mumbai were north Indian. Is there a need for any other proof of their arrogance? Let us make a list of the NSG commandos and policemen who died fighting the terrorists.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan – Malayalee
Havaldar Gajinder Singh – North Indian
Tukaram Umble – Marathi
Ashok Shinde – Marathi
Hemanth Karkare- Marathi
Vijay Salaskar – Marathi
Jaywant Patil – Marathi
Yogesh Patil – Marathi
Ambadas Pawar – Marathi
Arun Chitte – Marathi
Balasaheb Bhosale – Marathi
Shashank Shinde – Marathi
Ashok Kamte – Marathi
M.C. Chowdhary – North Indian
Mukesh B. Jadhav – North Indian
Bapusaheb Durugade – Marathi
I hate to do this. But I had to do this. I am myself not Marathi.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
@ Shaan: your thinking is precisely the reason for this rot .. if one can get by hindi/ english in most places why should i break my head learning other languages .. is learning a language necessary for staying in a place? .. if i go to multiple states due to my work profile i would need to be a linguist to really learn the tonnes of indian languages .. might as well balkanise the whole country ..
November 13th, 2009 at 12:53 am
@ramesh,
It is not necessary to learn a language if the locals speak your language. But it is always good to learn the language of the local people if you are going to live for a long time in a place. The issue in Mumbai is that though it is the capital of Maharashtra the language of the majority has become Hindi in the last 20 years due to unbridled migration, leading to insecurity in the minds of the locals. I don’t understand Marathi, I understand Hindi some 75% and I can speak English. Hindi/English everywhere in India would actually make it easier for people to communicate but local languages would then be finished. And this whole issue of taking oath in Hindi is an unwanted controversy created by Abu Azmi. It is absolutely necessary to honor a tradition even though you don’t understand the language. I have given here the excerpt of an article by Shashi Tharoor (Union Minister) about the incident when Deve Gowda gave a speech in Hindi written in Kannada script though he knew not a single word of Hindi.
“Twelve years ago, when India celebrated the 49th anniversary of our independence from British rule, H D Deve Gowda, then the prime minister, stood at the ramparts of New Delhi’s 16th century Red Fort and delivered the traditional Independence Day address to the nation in Hindi, the language which we have all learned to refer to (though the term has no constitutional basis) as India’s ‘national language’.
Eight other prime ministers had done exactly the same thing 48 times before him, but what was unusual this time was that Deve Gowda, a southerner from the state of Karnataka, spoke to the country in a language of which he scarcely knew a word. Tradition and politics required a speech in Hindi, so he gave one – the words having been written out for him in his native Kannada script, in which they, of course, made no sense. ”
Original article available at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3346890,prtpage-1.cms
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
[...] Thackeray: This moron stand for everything I know to be wrong, and I am not alone, and what you do about it, nothing help him advance his agenda and have a [...]
February 4th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Raj Thackray is very often projected as ant- national by north Indian medias. The hindi speaking people stay in maharashtra, earn money in maharashtra and send it to their homes. They live on streets , , shit on streets, do not pay taxes to municipal cooperation and save money out of it. They break the pipelines and get water out of it. They have occupied the streets and public places of Mumbai. They don’t learn marathi, speak in the vhimsical bhojpuri accent and don’t change themselves. They are bringing the North Indian culture of Goondaism to peaceful maharashtra.
Under the name of nationalism, hindi speaking emperailsm is being imposed on maharashtraians. we don’t want any sort of development at the cost of our culture and language, otherwise our condition will be no way different from the Red Indians of America or aborigins of Australia.
February 13th, 2010 at 2:26 am
To Jitendra (who’s posted before me),
Isn’t what you say the opinion of Americans on the Indians who migrate there? Americans know that all of us send money to our families in India, many do not pay taxes, work illegally on tourism visas and talk in Indianised English.
Will that stop you from going to America and earning in Dollars? NO.
You’re a lion in your house, but step out, and you’ll be eaten alive.
Can anyone tell me at least one thing the Shiv Sena has done till date that has benefited ANYONE else except them? ONE?
C’mon, this is a challenge for the misguided marathi manoos to answer.
Oh the Shiv Sena is such a menace, I fall short of words to say. They’re retards, and I don’t mean that in an abusive way. I mean it seriously.
They wanted the marathi men to gain exclusivity in selling vada pavs and driving rickshaws. I was shocked. Educated marathi men will now sell vada pavs for Rs 4 on the street?
Except the banking and the government sector, where procrastination is at it’s highest best, there are hardly any other sectors where Marathis work.
Bal Thackery has become the Rakhi Sawant of politics, with that disgusting appetite of wanting to be in news.