New Delhi: Very few people know that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Shrikant Thackeray's original name was Swararaj Shrikant Thackeray.And it was the late Bal Thackeray who asked him to change his name to Raj Thackeray.Raj Thackeray's father Shrikant Thackeray was a passionate music director. He gave musical names to his wife as well as his children.He named his wife Madhuwanti, which is a Raag in Hindustani Classical music.He named his daughter Jayjaywanti which is also a Raag.And the son was named Swararaj, which means the king of musical notes.As a child, Swararaj learnt the Tabla, the Guitar and the violin. Swararaj loved music but it did not click as a career for him because he was more inclined towards drawing cartoons.Raj Thackeray with wife Sharmila and two kidsSwararaj Thackeray started contributing cartoons for ‘Marmik', the weekly family magazine when he was in school.One fine day, Balasaheb told him, “I started my career as a cartoonist with the name, ‘Bal Thackeray'. You should start yours as ‘Raj Thackeray'.” And that's how Swararaj Thackeray became Raj Thackeray.Raj Thackeray was born on 14 June 1968 to Shrikant Thackeray (younger brother of Bal Thackeray) and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray's wife Meena Thackeray).Raj Thackeray did his schooling from Bal Mohan Vidyamandir, Mumbai and completed his graduation in fine arts from the t J J School of Arts Mumbai. Raj Thackeray with his wife SharmilaRaj Thackeray started his career with Shiv Sena under guidance of his uncle Bal Thackeray. In 1997 he started his career with the Shiv Sena Udyog Sena and tried to strengthen his overall political image as a youth leader.He raised funds for the employment through various sources. A major of this was the concert of 1996 which were organized which starred pop icon Michael Jackson and Lata Mangasherkar.These concerts asserted an image for the party and also propagated the Sena's popular culture that intrinsically was able to consolidate the party against the next generation.Raj Thackeray emerged as one of themost influential leaders of Shiv Sena. He actually started functioning as the right hand of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. Sharmila Thackeray, Raj Thackeray's wifeWith the rise in his stature, Raj got more ambitious and started considering himself as the political heir of Bal Thackeray.Here it is pertinent to point out that Raj had always tried to model himself after his uncle Bal Thackeray.Like Bal Thackeray, Raj was acerbic in his comments and was always disdainful towards his opponents.Once upon a time, even for political observers, Raj Thackeray appeared to be the perfect replacement for the ageing Bal Thackeray.Raj Thackeray was hugely disappointed when his uncle and the then Shiv Sena supremo declared his son Uddhav Thackeray as his political heir in January 2003. Raj Thackeray's son (Amit) and daughter (Urvashi)Uddhav Thackeray got the complete control over the organization as Bal Thackeray made him the working president of Shiv Sena.Raj was crestfallen as he considered himself to be the true inheritor of Bal Thackeray's legacy. In 2004, Balasaheb Thackeray announced him as the next party Chief, choosing him over Raj Thackeray, who everyone expected to succeed Balasaheb Thackeray.Raj tried to adjust himself to the new situation but could not continue for long in the party. In January of 2006 he handed his resignation from the Shiv Sena. He did so alleging that the party was run by clerks and that was the pertinent reason for the party's decline. Raj Thackeray with his wife SharmilaHe formed his own party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the MNS had fielded 10 Lok Sabha candidates, 8 against Shiv Sena candidates, in Maharashtra but could not win a single seat. Raj Thackeray is an avid supporter of Narendra Modi and had declared his support to Modi as PM.After the drubbing in Lok Sabha elections, Raj Thackeray has said that he will contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and that he will be the candidate for CM post.This will be for the first time that a person from Thackeray family will be contesting assembly elections.Raj Thackeray and family at a wedding ceremonyMr Thackeray is married to Sharmila, the daughter of a Marathi filmmaker. They have a son, Amit, and daughter, Urvashi.While appearing in ‘Aap Ki Adalat' show of Rajat Sharma just before 2014 general elections, Raj Thackeray had defended his unilateral support for Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.Defending his stand, Raj Thackeray told Rajat Sharma, “In 2011, I had gone for my rounds to Gujarat. I stayed there for over 10 days. Then while returning to Mumbai I had a press conference. At that point of time Narendra Modi was nowhere in the political scenario as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. Then there were talks of Sushmaji and Advaniji. I had then said that India needs a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi. When no one in this country had recommended it, Raj Thackeray had said that. No one had objected then.”Raj Thackeray with his uncle Bal Thackeray“Whatever I said, I said from my heart and I have all the right to say that. I don't have to walk around with Narendra Modi's photo and ask for votes. But if he does not perform well, our nation's condition will deteriorate. Had I not expressed my support for Modi, people like you would have said that he is a clandestine congress supporter? Now if I say I'm supporting him, I'm being question on my stand here too,” added Raj Thackeray. Raj did not hide his problem with the people of UP and Bihar in this interview. He went on to say, “People from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar initially come to Maharashtra to work. They work for some time and then start forming their constituencies. I'll give you an example – a man named Abu Azmi from Pratapgarh made a very foul statement.”Raj, Uddhav and Bal ThackerayComing out openly in defense of Narendra Modi, Raj Thackeray said in very clear words, “First of all, it's not that anybody likes what happened in 2002. Many Muslims including some of my Muslim industrialist friends, who are from Mumbai, come to me and say that although nobody can change what happened in 2002 but after that, the kind of development that Gujarat has seen is something that I should go and get settled there. There have been many events in India including what happened in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, we should forget if you have to move forward.”Raj, Uddhav and Bal ThackerayCommenting on Abu Azmi, Raj further said, "He comes to Maharashtra and gets selected for election from two places. People who originally resided in those areas are no longer there. People from UP were adjusted and given land so there was no place for Maharashtrans. The kind of politics these people place in the name of work is what I'm against." I have my friends here, Mr. Suresh Gupta. He is from UP and can also speak fluent Marathi. I have no problem with him. I don't see any difference between him and my other people. I have many Gujarati and even Muslim friends. Had I played that kind of politics, would they have been my friends?Raj, Uddhav and Bal ThackerayRaj, Uddhav and Bal ThackerayRaj Thackeray with his wife SharmilaRaj Thackeray with familyRaj, Uddhav and Bal ThackerayRaj with Smita ThackerayRaj and familyRaj Thackeray with his wife SharmilaRaj Thackeray with his wife SharmilaRaj Thackeray addressing a public meeting
