Author: The Metrognome

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Bal Thackeray laid to rest

Shiv Sena founder and chief, who passed away yesterday, was laid to rest with full State honours on Sunday evening.

Mumbai city came to a standstill on the day Shiv Sena chief, and the city’s original Tiger, Bal Thackeray, was laid to rest at Dadar’s Shivaji Park. He was 86, and had been ailing for a long while from a pancreatic disorder. Over 20 lakh people thronged the streets of Mumbai, accompanying the funeral procession from Thackeray’s residence Matoshree at Bandra, to Shiv Sena Bhavan and finally to Shivaji Park.

Shivaji Park witnessed a historic turnout that comprised mourners from the city and Maharashtra, State and national politicians, members of the Hindi film industry and of course, Thackeray’s own family. Uddhav, Thackeray’s youngest son and political heir, lit the funeral pyre at about 6.30 pm. Thackeray Sr was given a funeral with full State honours.

(Pictures courtesy ibnlive.com, hindu.com, indianexpress.com, manipalworld.com, intoday.in)

 

 

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Forgive me, Saheb!

Ex-Sainik and current Congressman Narayan Rane writes a heartfelt obituary in memory of Bal Thackeray, the man who shaped him.

Narayan Rane left the Shiv Sena in 2005 to join the Congress. Since then, both Bal Thackeray and Rane wasted no opportunity to take potshots at each other on various public fora. However, as the news of Thackeray’s ill health spread last week, Rane publicly admitted that he wished to meet the man who had shaped his political career.

And with Thackeray’s demise on Saturday, November 17, Rane wrote an emotional tribute to Thackeray in his family-owned newspaper, Prahaar. It remains to be seen how Shiv Sainiks and even the Congress will react to the obituary, coming as it is from friend-turned-foe Narayan Rane. The piece is reproduced below:

I watched the news of respected Shri Balasaheb Thackeray’s demise on television, and my heart was struck by several emotions. The tears flowed from my eyes as I remembered the many times I had spent with him. (With this obituary) I have tried to express on paper the tumult of emotions I am experiencing at the moment.

Whether his party was in power or not did not have the slightest effect on him. He continued living and speaking the way he always had – in his trademark royal style and with the same zest for life. I don’t think there was ever another person like him. His working style ensured that he rose to prominence as a national-level leader. I felt pride when declaring that such a man was my guru. Saheb, I will always regret the fact that I could not meet you as your life was ebbing away.

Saheb was a fount of kindness. His intellect and nature ensured that he made friends and followers from every walk of life. A beacon of hope for the Marathi manoos and a staunch Hindutvavadi, he established the Shiv Sena in 1966 at a time when such a party was needed in the city. The Marathi manoos and several youngsters like me were instantly attracted to him. The love and kindness he showered on Shiv Sainiks while forming his party ensured that his party workers would pledge their lives for him as long as they lived. He took care of his people, asked after them in times of grief, and this made him the darling of his party workers and the state.

I got a lot of love from Saheb. He also trusted me implicitly. I have no qualms in admitting that he made me the person I am. Whatever political success I have earned in my life, a lion’s share of it is because of Saheb. ‘A man should be rich by his thought, and this richness should flow freely’ is the teaching I took from him. I have always said that my journey from shakha pramukh to Chief Minister to Leader of Opposition was possible only because of Saheb. If I was an effective Chief Minister in my eight-month tenure, it was only because of you, Saheb.

He was as courageous as he was insightful. He was and will be known among the cartoonist greats all over the world. Similarly, he proved his writing prowess as the editor of Marmik and Saamna. His wily political sense always pulled the Sena out of any crisis.

He never compromised on religion or nationalism. Despite his sharp speech and uncompromising nature, he had friends in all fields and he was a popular leader in all of India. I will run out of paper before I am fully able to describe the time I have spent with him and the love he showered on me for 45 years.

He was battling death for the last few days. I kept thinking that this time, too, he would cheat death and get better. But he passed away…I regret having taken the decision that caused him a lot of hurt, but in the circumstances then, I had no choice but to take that decision. Some people forced me to take that decision…but never mind that now.

Saheb, you loved me more than my own parents did. You called me on the phone twice after I had left the Shiv Sena. What a big heart you had!

I wanted to meet him when his health was suffering. I was very uneasy about not meeting him. But to my misfortune, he passed away before I could see him one last time. Saheb, forgive me!

Rest in peace, Saheb. I humbly pray to God to grant strength to Shri Uddhavji and Shri Rajji and the entire Thackeray family in this time of grief.

Narayan Rane is the Industries Minister in the current Congress-led government in Maharashtra, and served as the State’s Chief Minister for eight months when the Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power.

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How Shivaji Park has shaped up for today

The famed park has been meticulously laid out for those who want to pay their last respects to Bal Thackeray.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

If you’re going to pay your last respects to Bal Thackeray, who died Saturday, November 17, after a long illness, you can head to Shivaji Park today. Thackeray’s body is going to be kept at Shivaji Park from 10 am to 5 pm today, Sunday, November 18.

Here are a few details of how Shivaji Park is gearing up to allow Bal Thackeray’s followers a last glimpse of the leader:

– Thackeray’s body will be brought to Shiv Sena Bhavan at about 6 am.

– His body will be kept on a large viewing stage erected on the Veer Savarkar Marg end of the Park. The stage will accommodate the Thackeray family, the party’s senior leaders and will also allocate space for the Press.

– The viewing stage will be at a height on a five-foot high, 10 foot long, and 20 foot wide stage erected near the Ganpati mandir just under the Shivaji statue.

– Access for the body’s viewing will be provided from two points, both from Keluskar Marg – one is the Meenatai Thackeray gate and the other is from MB Raut Road.

– There is an exit planned leading from the two access points and out on the road leading to Raja Bade Chowk.

– Barricades placed on two sides of the stage will ensure that nobody can get closer than 10 metres of the body.

– The Veer Sawarkar Marg and Lady Jamshedji Road will be closed to traffic. Alternative parking arrangements have been made.

– The BMC has set up over 26 mobile toilet blocks and has provided over 50 temporary drinking water connections for those who arrive for the darshan.

– At least 11 Senior Police Inspectors, 21 Sub Inspectors/Assistant Police Inspectors, and 310 other security personnel will be deployed for security.

– Over five lakh people and VVIPs are expected to attend the darshan today.

– The cremation is expected to take place at 6 pm at Shivaji Park, where members of the Thackeray family have previously been laid to rest.

(Source: BMC)

(Featured image courtesy www.thehindu.com) 

 

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Bal Thackeray passes away

Shiv Sena chief passes away after cardiac arrest; his health had reportedly been stabilising after a scare four days ago.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray passed away in Mumbai today. He was 86 and had been ailing from a pancreatic ailment for a while. He is said to have suffered from cardiac arrest – his health had been stabilising after acute respiratory distress a few days ago.

As the news of his recent strengthening health started doing the rounds, the crowds milling his official residence – Matoshree – began to reduce slightly, though devoted Shiv Sainiks continued to wait for news. As the news of his demise was announced today, the waiting crowds broke into sobs and the area had to be cordoned off again.

Police presence has been stepped up in the area.

Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in the 1960s; the party has largely been known as a Right-wing force that has been very vocal about the cause of the Marathi manoos in Maharashtra, apart from speaking out against minority communities in the state and the country.

 

 

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Ek tha tiger

Prakash Bal Joshi writes on the life and times of Bal Keshav Thackeray, Maharashtra state’s most enigmatic politician to date.

Bal Keshav Thackeray who ruled Mumbai, the commercial capital of India for four decades and ran his right wing outfit, the Shiv Sena, with an iron fist, passed away today after a long battle with a pancreatic illness. With his passing has gone an enigma from state politics.

Born on January 23, 1926, he began his career as a cartoonist for The Free Press Journal and later created a sort of world record by addressing huge public rallies  year after year at the same venue – Shivaji Park – for a straight 46 years.

After working with a renowned cartoonist like RK Laxman, he launched and edited Marmik, a weekly periodical that carried cartoons drawn by Balasaheb. His subject was Marathi ethos. It was easy for him to turn the periodical into a mouthpiece for the Shiv Sena in 1966, to organise and fight for unemployed Marathi-speaking youths. Initially, he went after the South Indian population in the city, for depriving Marathi youth of clerical jobs in government as well as the private sector in Mumbai and around.

Under his stewardship, the Shiv Sena grew from strength to strength in the decade signalling the 1970s, when communist trade unions in Mumbai metropolis controlling most of the textile mills began losing their grip. The then Congress Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik used the aggressive Shiv Sena against Leftist organisations, as well as maverick trade union leader Datta Samant, who had launched a historic strike in textile mills in the state capital. Thackeray first slowly captured power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the neighboring Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), later rising to turn the Shiv Sena into the most militant right wing Hindu nationalist organisation in Maharashtra. He molded his father ‘Prabodhankar’ Thackeray’s progressive philosophy to suit his line of action.

Thackeray grew from strength to strength and from one controversy to another; his rallies were always massive as people came from far off places to listen to his colourful speeches lampooning Congress leaders. Unlike traditional political leaders, he never considered caste factor while promoting his party workers or appointing them on plum posts. His political friends as well as opponents always respected him for his direct approach and ability to take decisions against popular sentiments.

He had penchant for making highly inflammable and controversial statements and always remain in the lime light. Due to political compulsions, the Congress government in the State never took any serious action against him, even when demands were made for strong action for his provocative statements. His appreciation of Hitler as an artist and orator created such a kind of controversy that even international media took note of this politician.

In the early 1980s, he changed his political track in a bid to expand his base. From merely talking about the ethos of the Marathi manoos, he began projecting the Shiv Sena as the most militant Hindutva organisation. Despite strong opposition from a section within the BJP – later to become its ally in the State, when Pramod Mahajan succeeded in forging an alliance owing to his excellent personal relations with Balasaheb – the relationship between the two remained intact and helped both the parties grow in the Congress-dominated State, and later catapulted the BJP to power in Delhi by aligning with like-minded regional parties.  As the Shiv Sena grew in rural Maharashtra, Thackeray started Saamna, a daily newspaper that till date serves as the party’s mouthpiece.

The Shiv Sena always remained a key player in Maharashtra, and when the saffron alliance came to power, Balasaheb decided to appoint Manohar Joshi as the State’s first non-Congress Chief Minister. At this time, he also earned the nickname ‘Remote Control’. In 1992, he claimed that his Sainiks were responsible for the demolition of the controversial Babri Masjid, and the Remote Control earned a new sobriquet – Hindu Hriday Samrat (Emperor of Hindus’ heart).

He also faced and weathered many political crises, as some of his trusted lieutenants left him for one or the other reason. Chhagan Bhujbal left when he opposed the Mandal Commission, later former Sena Chief Minister Narayan Rane left with his supporters and joined the Congress. A much bigger shock was in store when his nephew and supposed political heir Raj Thackeray left the Sena and set up his own political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). In recent times, Thackeray Sr made several attempts to reconcile his son Uddhav and Raj, with his last attempt being the pre-recorded speech at Shivaji Park that he made in this year’s Dussehra rally. His appeal to the Marathi people to remain united would be his last appeal at his beloved Shivaji Park.

Prakash Bal Joshi is a veteran state political journalist and renowned artist. He last worked with The Times of India, Mumbai. 

(Picture courtesy www.hindustantimes.com) 

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BCCI has been unfair against ZEE

BCCI to pay ZEE Rs 140 crore in damages; launch of ICL had led to strong-arm tactics from the BCCI.

A dispute dating back to year 2006 between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) Limited has now resulted in a tribunal declaring that the BCCI will pay ZEE Rs 140 crore against damages on account of ‘loss of goodwill and profit’ and also in lieu of refund of security deposit with interest.

In 2006, ZEE had won the exclusive media rights to telecast all ODIs to be held between India and any other country in any neutral territory outside India for a period of five years. However, ZEE announced the launch of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) the next year, and all hell broke loose – the five-year Agreement between the two parties was terminated by the BCCI in May 2007, around the time of launch of the ICL, resulting in ZEE invoking arbitration for wrongful termination of the contract.

An Arbitral Tribunal consisting of Justice AS Anand (Retd.), Former Chief Justice of India; Justice YK Sabharwal (Retd.), Former Chief Justice of India and Justice BN Srikrishna (Retd.), Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, was set up to study the matter. Yesterday, the Tribunal ruled in favour of ZEE, holding the BCCI guilty of “exploiting its dominant position” in the game of cricket in India, and of indulging in “unfair conduct against ZEE.” The Tribunal also held that ZEE was “treated unfairly  in its commercial contracts, due to the launch of the Indian Cricket League and was illegally blacklisted.”

Accordingly, the Tribunal also passed an award of Rs 140 crore to be payable by the BCCI to ZEE by December 1, 2012. Failing the payment by this date, interest on the amount would be additionally charged at a rate of 11 per cent per annum.

Punit Goenka, Managing Director and CEO, ZEE said, “We welcome the award handed over to it (BCCI) by an eminent panel of jurists.  This award is towards recovery of the losses that we have incurred in the sports business in the past.  We continue to remain committed to our sports business in the long term.”

What the Tribunal observed

– The termination of the Agreement by BCCI after the series held in Abu Dhabi and the triseries held in Malaysia was clearly illegal and invalid.

– The breach of Agreement dated 12.04.2006 was committed by the BCCI and not by the Claimant (ZEE).

–  BCCI took the action of termination of claimants rights under Agreement dated 12.4.2006 on account of Claimant launching of ICL and not for reasons made out in its letter of termination.

– The BCCI seems to have been exploiting its dominating position in respect of game of cricket in India.

– The BCCI blacklisting of ZEE (and its group/affiliate companies) from participating in any bidding process of BCCI was clearly illegal.

– The Award amount of approximately Rs. 140 crores payable by BCCI to ZEE includes the Security Deposit of Rs. 30 crores with interest @11% p.a. from 31st May, 2007, loss of profit, loss of goodwill, etc.

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