Today is the 3rd death anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
Born to politician, social activist and author Keshav Sitaram Thackeray on 23 January, 1926, he originally emerged from a movement in Mumbai demanding preferential treatment for Maharashtrians over migrants to the city.
He started off his career as a cartoonist with ‘The Free Press Journal' in Mumbai and contribute to the Sunday edition of ‘The Times Of India'. In 1960, he left ‘The Free Press Journal' and formed his own political weekly ‘Marmik'. Thackeray used his weekly to create public opinion against thre influx of non-Marathi people in Bombay who, according to him, were depriving natives of their livelihood. It was in 1966, he founded political party Shiv Sena.
India TV brings to you some of the interesting facts about Sena founder Bal Thackeray and also few of his best cartoons:
His father spelled his last name 'Thakre', which is the conventional Marathi spelling. But junior Thakre changed it to Thackeray because he was a great fan of the British author William Makepeace Thackeray -- who has written the books like Barry Lyndon and The Rose and the Ring.
Bal Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in the newspaper. He has also worked with known artist RK Laxman. It was in 1960 when, Bal Thackeray began publishing the satirical cartoon weekly Marmik.
He was called Balsaheb by his supporters and his admirers gave him the title of Hindu Hriday Samrat, which means the Emperor of the Hindu hearts.
In 1966, he formed Shiv Sena with the idea of fighting for the rights of the Marathis. He was highly influence by his father Keshav Thakrey, who in his time was a social activist himself who supported the idea of Maharashtra becoming a complete Marathi speaking state with Mumbai as its capital.
Bal Thackeray was banned to vote and contest in the elections for six years by the Election Commission as he was indulged in corrupt practices for using religion to seek votes.
Bal Thackeray never contested any election, nor his son Uddhav.
His praise for Adolph Hitler was not supported by people. He believed that Adolph Hitler was an artist.
Other than being related with politics, he was the chief editor of the newspaper Saamna.
Michael Jackson had also visited Bal Thackeray and reportedly autographed the toilet he used during the visit.
Bal Thackeray gifted Amitabh Bachchan with a cartoon with the name 'Defeating Yamraaj' when he was recovering from the Coolie Injury.
