Bal Thackeray

Bal Thackeray (Marathi pronunciation: [baːɭ̆ keːʃəʋ ʈʰaːk(ə)ɾeː]; 23 January 1926 – 17 November 2012), also known as Balasaheb Thackeray, was an Indian cartoonist and politician who founded the original Shiv Sena, a far-right, a pro-Marathi and a Hindu nationalist party active mainly in the state of Maharashtra.

Thackeray began his professional career as a cartoonist with the English-language daily, The Free Press Journal in Bombay, but he left the paper in 1960 to form his own political weekly, Marmik. His political philosophy was largely shaped by his father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, a leading figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra (United Maharashtra) movement, which advocated the creation of a separate linguistic state for Marathi speakers. Through Marmik, Bal Thackeray campaigned against the growing influence of non-Marathis in Mumbai.

He had a large political influence in the state, especially in Mumbai.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Thackeray built the Shiv Sena with help of Madhav Mehere, Chief Attorney for Trade Union of India, Babasaheb Purandare, historian for Govt of Maharashtra and Madhav Deshpande, Head Accountant for Shiv Sena.These three individuals to a large extent were responsible for the success of Shiv Sena and stability of politics in Mumbai till 2000 to ensure it grows into an economic power center. Thackeray was also the founder of the Marathi-language newspaper Saamana. After the riots of 1992–93, he and his party took a Hindutva stance. Shivsena was seen as a fascist, chauvinist & a variant of far right. In 1999, Thackeray was banned from voting and contesting in any election for six years on the recommendations of the Election Commission for his controversial speeches, inciting violence and massive mobilization tactics & a based fear-less image.Thackeray was arrested multiple times and spent a brief stint in prison, but he never faced any major legal repercussions.Thackeray had an image of a hardcore regional supreme leader, godfather & controlled the state with an iron hand. Upon his death, he was accorded a state funeral, at which many mourners were present. Thackeray did not hold any official positions, and he was never formally elected as the leader of his party but still controlled the party and state. Thackeray left a nationwide right wing surge & an Ultra-Nationalism that is still seen today in current active Paramilitary in India & basically after BJP's rise to power in India since 2014.