Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Keshav Thackeray passed away today at 3.30 p.m at His Residence after a short illeness. Â He was 86 years old.
His doctor, Jaleel Parker, made the announcement at 4.55 p.m. outside Matoshree, his residence, that was as much the city’s landmark as a place of pilgrimage for millions of supporters throughout the state.
Thousands of them had been standing in vigil outside his home in upscale Bandra East area of Mumbai for the last 72 hours as the news got out about Thackeray’s failing health.
He is survived by his sons, political heir and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and filmmaker Jaidev. A widower, Thackeray’s wife Meena and his eldest son Bindhumadhav passed away in 1996.
His nephew, Raj Thackeray, once considered his political heir, broke away to form his own regional party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which often competed with Shiv Sena in espousing extreme rightwing views that championed local Marathi pride and exclusivism at the expense of other communities that resided in India’s richest and most industrialised state.
The former cartoonist, who in the later years sported a stylish beard and wore twin bead necklaces in the manner of Hindu gurus, Thackeray ran his political party Shiv Sena (the army of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity), like a local militia. He leaves behind a legacy of anti-minority poison that has been scourge of Mumbai, the country’s financial and entertainment capital.
Active till the end, Thackeray, who never hesitated to practice his particular brand of street politics, had just days ago on Nov 5 asked party activists “not to permit” the forthcoming cricket matches between India and Pakistan.
In a front-page appeal in the party mouthpiece Saamna, he had lashed out at Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his statement “to forget the past” and play cricket with Pakistan.
Thackeray was ailing for about two years and was under regular medical treatment at home. In the last week, his health deteriorated sharply.
According to party leaders, a virtual ICU had been recreated at Matoshri with all emergency equipment and medical and para-medical staff on duty round-the-clock.
His son Uddhav Thackeray was fielding scores of visitors, politicians and showbiz celebrities as this city remained on the edge for the last few days with heavy police deployment outside his residence and in trouble spots around the city.
Mumbai and Maharashtra entered a state of mourning soon after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death was announced Saturday afternoon.
Being a Saturday, most offices in the city and suburbs work half day, but those still open closed down and their staffers proceeded to their homes.
There was no panic or any kind of uncivil reaction anywhere in the city following the 86-year old leader’s demise.
Shops and establishments, restaurants and even wayside tea stalls shut down, cinemas and theatres cancelled all their shows for the day, major public and private functions were also called off or postponed as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
Outside Matoshri, the Thackeray residence in Bandra East, floods of tears were witnessed as over 5,000 assembled Shiv Sainiks wept unabashedly for their beloved leader.
The normally aggressive and feared Shiv Sainiks Saturday grieved in public, tears streaming down their cheeks, voices choked as they consoled each other and prayed for Thackeray’s soul.
All over Mumbai, Thane and Raigad — considered Shiv Sena’s traditional bastions — all normal activities ground to a halt, as also in rest of Maharashtra.
Baliram Uke, a shocked tailor in Kelshi village in Ratnagiri, downed his shutter for the day, picked up a garland of flowers and went to his home nearby to offer a prayer for Thackeray.
In most towns and villages in the state, Shiv Sena ‘shakhas’ (branches) put up pictures of Thackeray with condolence messages to enable people pay their respects.
Mumbai Police, along with Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police and other forces, have made elaborate security arrangements all over the western megapolis and other parts of the state to ward off any untoward incidents.
All Shiv Sena leaders have repeatedly over the past one week appealed to their party workers to “maintain peace and remain calm”.
It had the desired effect — people of Mumbai and Maharashtra as well as Shiv Sainiks have stoically accepted the reality and have chosen to peacefully mourn for their leader.
In fact, two days ago Shiv Sena executive president specifically urged his Sainiks “not to spoil the image of Matoshri” by indulging in any kind of violence.
“He was like a ray of hope and support for the ordinary Maharashtrian. The common Marathi feels orphaned,” said Minakshi S., a lower middle-class housewife from Borivli, as she wept.
P. Neelima, a retired government official, said whatever may be people’s opinions about Thackeray, “the fact was that Mumbai needed a tough person like him to instil a sense of safety among the masses.”