Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray breathed his last around 3.30 p.m. on Saturday at his residence ‘Matoshree’ after days of uncertainty over his health condition. He was 86.
At 5 p.m., announcing Bal Thackeray’s demise to the media, his physician Jalil Parkar said though doctors tried their best to revive the Sena chief, their efforts were not successful and he died of a cardiac arrest.
As the news spread, shops downed shutters and roads emptied out and the city is expected to be totally closed on Sunday Nov 18,2012. Over 20 lakh people are expected to attend the funeral.
The mortal remains of Bal Thackeray will be consigned to the flames Sunday evening at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. Shivaji Park is revered as 'Shiv Tirth' by Shiv Sainiks in Maharashtra.
"Bal Thackeray's body is at present kept at Matoshri. Tomorrow morning, around 7.30 am, it will be taken to Shiv Sena Bhavan for party workers to pay their respects. From there, it will be taken to Shivaji Park where the public can pay their last respects from 9 am," party MP Sanjay Raut told
Bal Thackeray's Family
Bal Thackeray 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.
Bal Thackeray's Early Career
Bal Thackeray started his career as a Cartoonist in the' Free Press Journal ' in Bombay. His cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of The Times of India. In 1960, he launched a Cartoon Weekly Marmik with his brother.After Bal Thackeray's differences with the Free Press Journal, he and four or five people, including George Fernandes, left the paper and started their own daily News Day. The paper survived for one or two months.
Launch of Shiv Sena
Bal Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the natives of the State of Maharashtra.The early objective of the Shiv Sena was to ensure job security for Maharashtrians competing against immigrants from southern India, Gujaratis and Marwaris.
In 1989, the Sena's Newspaper Saamna was launched.
Bal Thackeray's Health Condition Since 2009
He underwent an angioplasty in 2009 and a coronary bypass surgery in 1990. He was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and later in July he was diagnosed with pancreatic ailments.
He skipped the annual Dussehra rally in Oct,2012 and instead a video recording of his speech was aired to a large crowd at Shivaji Park. He publicly acknowledged his ill health and appealed to people to stand by his son Uddhav and grandson Aditya. He spent his last days at home, in a room which functioned like an ICU, attended by his family and teams of doctors
Bal Thackeray,the Hindu Hriday Samrat(Ruler of Hindu Hearts)
with its Hindutva ally the BJP.
On July 28, 1999 Bal Thackeray was banned from voting and contesting in any election for six years from Dec 11, 1999 till Dec 10, 2005 on the recommendations of the Election Commission. After the six-year voting ban on Bal Thackeray was lifted in 2005, he voted for the first time in the 2006 BMC elections.
Referred by many as the uncrowned King of Mumbai, Thackeray made space for himself in Maharashtra’s political arena by addressing the concerns of Maharashtrians who increasingly felt marginalized and deprived in the fast developing metropolis of Mumbai.
In the five decades of the Sena’s existence, Thackeray formed an alliance with almost all political parties including the Congress, Socialist and even the Muslim League at various points of time to further his own cause.
Condolence Messages of Political Leaders
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter, "Full of life, Balasaheb Thackeray was an epitome of courage and valour. I am grieved to hear about his demise. May his soul rest in peace."
BJP's Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said on Twitter, "I am terribly pained to hear that the Lion is dead."
BJP's Arun Jaitley, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said, "He was one of the most charismatic leaders of his generation and uncompromising in his principles."
Balasaheb Thackeray's Last Journey
Bal Thackeray's Funeral
Mourners gather during the funeral of Shiv Sena party leader Bal Thackeray in Mumbai
'Saamna' Mourns Bal Thackeray's Death
Bal Thackeray's Newspapers Saamna (in Marathi) and Dopahar Ka Saamna (in Hindi) sported black front pages as a mark of mourning for the second consecutive day Monday Nov 19,2012.This is the first time in Saamna's history since its launch Jan 23, 1988, that its two main cover pages were printed in sheer black two days in a row.
On the jacket cover is a large picture of Bal Thackeray waving adieu to the people with a huge headline in Marathi: "World witnesses Shiv Sena chief's power and Shiv Sainiks' devotion" - and a small accompanying story with a big picture of the crowds outside Shiv Sena Bhavan on Sunday, during the funeral.
The inside main cover has a flier headline: "Storm subsides in the lap of Shivtirth", referring to the public cremation held at Shivaji Park in south-central Mumbai Sunday.
This was an apparent continuation of Sunday's headline: "A storm called Balasaheb is peaceful," and accompanied by a collage of pictures showing the unprecedented turnout for the funeral, a serene image of Bal Thackeray covered by the Indian flag, the gun salute, and the body consigned to flames.
Thanks a million once again, Regards, Bal Thackeray Quotes
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