Just finished reading this Book. Being a ShivSainik & Balasaheb?s devotee wanted to read this Book a long time back. Finally got the Free Time during the #Lockdown and was managed to finished this one in around 15 to 20 days. My two main purposes of Supporting ShivSena is its support for Marathi Manus & promoting ?Aggressive Hindutva?… Both the factors have been beautifully highlighted by the Author Vaibhav Purandare who is now the Senior Editor of Times of India as per his Facebook Profile. Well what?s the Positive Part in this Blog… All Marathi Asmita Supporters & Pro-Hindutvadi people will enjoy reading my Notes about this Book. Others can read too however, I am not sure about the Positivity they will get from the Notes… Just sharing few two major points which I read in this Book relating to Marathi Asmita & Hindutva
Marathi Asmita !!
ShivSena arguably the only party which was formed for the upliftment of Marathi People especially at a time when most of the Jobs & business in Mumbai were owned by South Indians & Gujaratis. The Earlier ShivSena Shakha Networks informed people about Job Openings available to Marathi People is worth making a Note Of. Jobs in Banks & other Govt. Institutions for Marathi people through wings like Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti are also worth mentioning.
Also, Sharing one incident that occurred in 1973 about a 16- Year Old Marathi Youth from Dombivli named Ajit Nadkarni. Ajit who was extremely impressed by Balasaheb?s Speeches went to meet him at this Matoshree residence in Bandra. The guy had just cleared his SSC exams and had a desire to work full time for ShivSena.
Nadkarni who later went on to become the Standing Committee Chairman in KDMC has mentioned this: ? Saheb asked me to work for ShivSena but not full time. He said you have just cleared your SSC Exams, you must pursue your further studies & become financially dependent & stand on your own feet. You must not be dependent on anyone and not just think of getting a job. Think of Setting up your own business… Marathi people must compete with each other in the world of enterprise… If you work full time for ShivSena your studies will be affected said Balasaheb?.
Well that every much explains what Balasaheb expected from his Sainiks. Looking at the current scenario especially in Mumbai, the Marathi people lagging behind financially to an extent is due to their displeasure or a lack of courage to take a risk and set up their own businesses.
Hindutva !!
Many say ShivSena embarrassed Hindutva after getting into an alliance with BJP or during the Ram Mandir episode or 1992-93 Mumbai Riots. However, the fact is that ShivSena?s involvement with Hindutva began as early as 1967. An incident in the second half of 1967 just a year after Sena was formed marked for the first time, Hindu Nationalism as an undercurrent of ShivSena?s Philosophy. In Kalyan a town close to Thane a problem had arise following the claims over the Durgadi Fort shrine by both Hindus & Muslims. The local Hindus believe that the shrine was that of Goddess Durga & the Muslims believed it to be a mosque and were performing Namaaz there.
When Balasaheb came to know about the matter he declared that he would unfurl the Saffron Flag atop Durgadi Fort. After a ban enforced by CM VP Naik for performing Puja at the Shrine during Navratri Festival, Balasaheb arrived in Kalyan on 8th September 1967 along with his two lieutenants Dattaji Salvi & Manohar Joshi he was greeted by Sainiks & Local Hindus at the base of the Fort. The Crowd performed all its sacramental ceremonies on the fort. This was ShivSena?s first step towards Hindutva.
Even though Balasaheb resorted to hardcore Hindutva especially after the Ayodhya Ram Mandir episode his Hindutva was always in the interest of people. His only point was that Minority appeasement carried out by Congress in the name of Secularism should be stopped & Hindus of this Nation should come together. Balasaheb was always against Pro ? Pakistani Muslims & never against Nationalist Muslims. Saheb even allowed a Muslim to perform a Namaz at this Matoshree Residence. That?s the reason even being a Pro-HIndutvavadi party there were many Muslims supporting the Sena.
If you want to know more about ShivSena its formation, its alliances with various parties, Supporting Congress?s Barrister Antulay for Maharashtra CM post, alliance with BJP, winning the assembly Polls in 1995, Raj vs Uddhav Episode you can go through this Book.