SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY & HINDUTVA

SHRI BALA SAHEB THACKERAY & HINDUTVA
The Profile of Shri Balasaheb Thackeray
Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is the living legend of Indian politics. Amidst other political pigmies his towering personality stands out like Himalayan peaks .His enigmatic persona has won the hearts of millions of Maharashtrians as well as fellow countrymen. Balasaheb is a mass leader in true sense of the word and his contribution to the promotion of Hindutva has been remarkable. His political ideology is a curious mix of nationalist agenda , pro Hindu stance and sons of the soil policy. He launched Shiv Sena on 30th October, 1966 with a great vision for Maharashtra and it's people .It was formed to give the due right to Maharashtrians who were ousted in their own homeland. After accomplishing this task successfully he advocated the cause of firebrand Hinduism which gave him immense popularity on national and international front. He heads the political organisation Shiv Sena whose journey to stardom has been a long, bumpy ride. From 'sons of the soil' slogans in the back-alleys of Mumbai to hardcore Hindutva. From Municipal Corporation to Mantralaya, The Shiv Sena has come a long way. Few will deny the role of Shiv Sena Chief in altering the state's social and political agenda .It is perhaps the only party which without mounting platitudes, allows backwards and Brahmins to co-exist under one roof. This explains why Shri Thackeray stands heads and shoulders above his peers, a fact his critics find difficult to stomach. Though routinely railed for his views and ideology, public criticism has hardly dampened Shri Thackeray's invincible spirit ."I will fight till the end ," is his mission statement. Shiv Sena Chief Shri Balasaheb Thackeray is very open by nature. He is not the person who would think one thing and say something else. Sometimes he had to pay political price for this frank outspoken behaviour but he is least bothered. He began his career as a cartoonist and journalist and joined politics under specific circumstances. It was the joint Maharashtra movement which fueled the surcharged emotions. His exemplary skills as a cartoonist and visionary media strategist has contributed firebrand daily " Samana", Hindi Eveninger "Dopahar Ka Samana" And " Marmik". The ever rising graph of Balasaheb's political career has amazed several political observers. His impeccable oratory skills still mesmerizes the audiences with extraordinary wit and fluid style. Many of his no-holds-barred statements have triggered-off controversies but his enigma continues to enthrall media and mass. In Shiv Sena, Balasaheb does not have to issue a dictat. Whatever he says, automatically becomes an order for the partymen and followers. Shiv Sena Chief commands a special status in the party and whole heartedly accepted as a benevolent leader. Unlike leaders in other parties Balasaheb's style of functioning is entirely different. He has a Lion's share in breaking a thirty year old monopoly of Congress rule in the State. It is amazing to see that Balasaheb alone commands such unflinching loyalty of the Sena workers and boundless popularity among the masses for nearly thirty years, other political leaders can not match him even fractionally. Balasaheb is the first and only example of its kind not only in Maharashtra but also in India. Shri. Thackeray's greatest contribution to Maharashtra and Maharashtrians is the sense of pride which he inculcated over the decades among people. It was he who stressed that Maharashtrians should be treated on par with outsiders. His towering personality has inspired youths of Maharashtra to grow against all odds. It was his social commitment and sincerity of purpose which paved way for pioneering schemes like free housing scheme for slum dwellers and jobs for unemployed youths. After all, it is he who is feeding fodder to their cannon. Even his staunchest detractors will admit that Bal Keshav Thackeray is the most popular public figure of contemporary Maharashtra. For over three decades Shri Thackeray has been straddling the state's political centre stage, evoking extreme response from faithfuls and foes alike his Charm continues to rule hearts of millions of Maharashtrians.

Sonia Gandhi and the art of mystery branding

Sonia Gandhi and the art of mystery branding


Who is Sonia Gandhi? Do we the citizens of this country really know her? What are her views on various things? What does she think about the current state of the Indian economy? What does she think of the government which she runs on “remote control”, like Balasaheb Thackeray once did? When she went abroad recently for medical treatment, what is it that she was suffering from? Does it bother her that her only son Rahul is in his forties now and is still unmarried? Does she find time to be with her two grandsons? Are her Hindi speeches written in Roman script?

Pardon me for being rhetorical, but I am just trying to make a broader point. The citizens of India don’t have answers for any of the questions asked above. They need not have answers for every question. But they definitely need to know her views on the Indian economy, the government she runs on remote control and the medical illness that plagues her.

The other questions are personal and answering them would just satisfy some curiosity and nothing else.

Political mystery. Image courtesy PIB
The fundamental question that arises here is why is there so much mystery surrounding Sonia Gandhi? Nobody currently influences the economics and politics of India more than she does. But when was the last time you read an interview with her and heard her interacting with the media?

The answer behind all her mystery might very well lie in the art of branding a product. As brand guru Martin Lindstrom writes in Buyology – Truth and Lies About Why We Buy, “Mystery is a fascinating component as many brands leverage this in order to make us pay more for a brand.”

And so many big brands make mystery their selling point.

Ye PSPO nahi jaanta, went the catch line of an advertisement of Orient Fans. Towards the end of the advertisement it was revealed that PSPO stands for “Peak Speed Performance Output.” Now what does that mean?

Or take the case of ZPTO yukt naya clinic All Clear. What does ZPTO stand for?

Or take the case of Tata Xenon XT, the new car from Tata Motors. What does XT stand for?

Or Johnson’s natural baby oil with aloe vera? What is aloe vera?

Or products like Ariel Oxyblue and Opti-ThickTM Harpic?

All these abbreviations and terms stand for something. PSPO is a technology that uses lesser electricity to deliver more air, over a larger area. ZPTO is a microbiocide, which is supposed to kill microbes which cause dandruff. But dandruff can happen for a lot of other reasons as well.

The XT in Xenon XT stands for Cross Terrain. Aloe Vera is a plant with supposed medicinal qualities and has been often cited as being used in herbal medicines. It is even mentioned in the New Testament (John 19:39–40)

Do most consumers understand what do these terms mean? The answer in most cases would be no. But do these terms matter to consumers when they make a buying decision? Yes, they do. The mystery associated with such terms, makes the product more appealing to consumers.

“Take the Sony Trintron TV for example. What is Trintron? No idea. It’s some technical mystery, which claims that the TV is better – it sounds technical and fancy and seduces us to believe this is something very special. This is mystery in action,” says Lindstrom.

The case with Sonia Gandhi is very similar. The “mystery” associated with her along with her foreign origin makes her very appealing to the Indian voter.

And she goes out of her way to maintain the mystery. The recent “circus” in the run up to the presidential election is a good case in point. Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, went to meet her to discuss who would be the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Banerjee came out and told the waiting press that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Vice-President Hamid Ansari, were the two candidates on Sonia’s mind. No one officially knew till then what was Sonia Gandhi’s take on the issue. The cat was suddenly out of the bag.

Banerjee then went to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav and put out three candidates of her own, former president APJ Abdul Kalam, the current Prime Minister, and suspended CPI(M) member and former speaker of the Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee.

But pretty soon Yadav had backed out of the so-called deal he had struck with Mamata. It is said that Sonia Gandhi had secret meetings with Mulayam Singh Yadav, and soon he was ready to support the UPA’s candidate for president.

There are a couple of interesting points that come out here. One is, of course, that you don’t play games with the president of the Congress party, who comes from the Nehru-Gandhi family. But more importantly it was a lesson to everyone about what happens when you talk to the press about what Sonia Gandhi is thinking on a particularly important issue. The “mystery” is important to her being and it must be maintained.

Maintaining the mystery behind a good brand goes a long way in maintain the selling point. Lindstrom provides a very good example of a shampoo launch to explain what happens when the mystery associated with a brand goes.

“When Unilever was getting to launch a shampoo in Asia, a mischievous employee with time on his hands wrote on the label, just for the hell of it, Contains the X9 Factor. This last-minute addition went undetected by Unilever, and soon millions and millions of bottles of the shampoo were shipped to stores with those four words inscribed on the label. It would have cost too much to recall all the shampoo, so Unilever simply let it be.”

“Six months later, when the shampoo had sold out, the company reprinted the label, this time leaving out the reference to the non-existent X9 Factor. The company was in for a surprise. ‘None of the customers had any idea of what the X9 Factor was, but were indignant that Unilever had dared to get rid of it. In fact, many people claimed that their shampoo wasn’t working anymore, and that their hair had lost its luster, all because the company had dropped the elusive X9 Factor’,” writes Lindstrom.

With the mystery gone, consumers thought that the brand wasn’t simply good enough as its earlier version. Sonia Gandhi seems to be working on the same principle in keeping her mystery going and keeping her publicity to the minimum.

She is rarely seen speaking unless it’s an election meeting, where her speeches are largely prepared in advance, unlike Atal Bihari Vajpayee who spoke impromptu on a lot of occasions. I don’t remember ever reading an interview of hers. Even the few biographies written on her are largely about the days when she first came to India and was put up at the house of Teji and Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Her initial struggle to adjust to Indians ways. Her strong relationship with her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi. Her reluctance to allow Rajiv Gandhi to enter politics, after the death of his brother Sanjay. And so on. None of them get into the political side of Sonia Gandhi.

Biography of Balasaheb Thackeray

Biography of Balasaheb Thackeray

At the right side, there is one great man who stands for the common Marathi People. This is one of my Ideal person who deserved to be great man & also he got on his own steps & own ways.
I know that no one will tell me that I don't know this man. This is my favourite Mr. Balasaheb Thackeray.
*बाळ केशव ठाकरे*
बाळ केशव ठाकरे popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray, is the founder and chief of the Shiv Sena, a Hindu nationalist, Marathi ethnocentric and populist party active in the state of Maharashtra.
A Story of Great Hindu nationalist
Bal Thackeray was born to Keshav Sitaram Thackeray who is also known as Prabodhankar Thackeray, because of his articles in his fortnightly magazine named Prabodhan or "Enlightenment" in a lower-middle class family. Keshav Thackeray was a progressive social activist and writer who was against caste biases and played a key role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalwal that is United Maharashtra Movement in the 1950 to form the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra along with Mumbai as its capital.
Bal Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai in the 1950s. 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. He used it to campaign against the growing influence of non-Marathi people in Mumbai targeting Gujaratis and South Indian labor workers.
He formed the Shiv Sena on June 19th, 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the Maharashtrians. The early objective of the Shiv Sena was to ensure job security for Maharashtrians against immigrants from southern India, Gujaratis and Marwaris.
Politically, the Shiv Sena was anti-Communist, and wrested control of major trade unions in Mumbai from the Communist Party of India and demanded protection money from mainly gujarati and marwari business leaders. It later allied itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP-Shiv Sena combine won the 1995 Maharashtra State Assembly elections and came to power. During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Bal Thackeray was nicknamed "remote control" since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind-the-scenes.
Thackeray has claimed that the Shiv Sena has helped the Marathi commoner in Mumbai, especially in the public sector. Opposition leftist parties allege that the Shiv Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.
Controversies
Thackeray is very vocal in his opposition to people who migrate to Mumbai, to non-Hindus and to illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. In the late 1970s, as part of his "Maharashtra is for Maharashtrians" campaign, Thackeray threatened migrants from South India with harm unless they left Mumbai.
In 2002, Thackeray issued a call to form Hindu suicide squads to counter alleged Muslim violence:
If such suicide squads are formed only then can we take on perpetrators of mindless violence.
In reaction to Thackeray’s call, Maharashtra government registered a case against him for inciting enmity between different groups.
Asia Times further reported on Thackeray’s rhetoric:
"to take the Muslims head on". "Trouble-making Muslims should be wiped out from the country ... kick out the four crore Bangladeshi Muslims and then the country will be secure," the Shiv Sena leader said. Urging Hindus to start calling India "Hindu rashtra", he maintained that only "our religion is to be honored here" and then "we will look after other religions".
At least two organizations founded and managed by the retired Indian Army officers namely Lt Col (retired) Jayant Rao Chitale and Lt Ge. P.N. Hoon (former commander-in-chief of the Western Command), answered Bal Thackeray’s call to set up the suicide squads in India. Lt Gen. Hoon claimed, Thackeray instructed him to set up the training camps.
Thackeray continues to publish inflammatory editorials in his party's newsletter, Saamana.
Views on Muslims
Thackeray's views have typically been highly anti-Muslim, usually attacking them and occasionally sympathizing with them. He has declared that he is not against every Muslim, but only those who reside in this country but do not obey the laws of the land. "I consider such people traitors". His party is viewed as being anti-Muslim, though Shiv Sainiks officially reject this accusation. When explaining his views on Hindutva, he has conflated Islam with violence and has called for Hindus to "fight terrorism and fight Islam". In an interview in Suketu Mehta's book 'Maximum City', he advocates the hanging of Indian Muslims and mass expulsion of Muslim migrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
In the 1980s he had stated that:
"Muslims were spreading like a cancer and should be operated on like a cancer. The country should be saved from the Muslims and the police should support Hindu Maha Sangh in their struggle just like the police in Punjab were sympathetic to the Khalistanis."
Bal Thackeray criticized and challenged Indian Muslims through his party newspaper, Sāmna, around the time the 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by members of the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the northern town of Ayodhya, on December 6, 1992. Orthodox Hindus believe that the Babri Mosque was built on the demolished ruins of a Hindu temple in the 16th century, and consider it to be the Ram Janmabhoomi.
The Justice Srikrishna Commission of Enquiry, which investigated the ensuing communal riots in Mumbai, indicted Thackeray for sparking anti-Muslim violence, which led to more than 1,000 deaths in several ensuing riots, many by having kerosene poured on their bodies while alive and then being burned to death. The death toll during the actual act of the demolition of the Mosque was zero. The Srikrishna Commission found that Thackeray was personally responsible, not only for inciting the mobs through his incendiary speeches, but also directly coordinating the movement of the rioters. At the time, Thackeray made allegations that the Commission was "biased" and "anti-Hindu".
In a deposition before the Srikrishna Commission a witness alleged Thackeray coordinated much of the January 1993 Mumbai carnage. Yuvraj Mohite claimed, "Balasaheb was sitting and he was getting calls from various places. He would ask what was happening at that particular place from where he got the call and then he would say, 'Kill them. Send them to Allah.'" Mohite additionally told the commission that "Thackeray –Ordered that not one Muslim be left alive to stand in the witness box Asked his men to send the additional police commissioner, A A Khan, to his Allah.
Ordered his men to retaliate to the Hindu killings in Jogeshwari."
Later, in February 1993 Thackeray said, "I am proud of what my boys have done. We had to retaliate and we did. If it was not for us, no one would have controlled the Muslims."
However, in an interview in 1998, he claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the Babri Mosque or Ram Janmabhoomi issue, saying:
"We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us."
He has since made more inflammatory statements regarding Muslims, and reiterated his desire for Hindus to unite across linguistic barriers and to see "a Hindustan for Hindus" and to "bring Islam to this country down to its knees".
However, he has also expressed admiration for Muslims in Mumbai in the wake of the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings. In response to threats made by the leader of the Samajwadi Party that accusations of terrorism directed at Indian Muslims would bring about communal strife, Thackeray said that the unity of Mumbaikars in the wake of the terrorist attacks was "a slap to fanatics of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi" and that Thackeray "salute those Muslims who participated in the two minutes' silence on July 18 to mourn the blast victims".

In 2008, Thackeray wrote "Islamic terrorism is growing and Hindu terrorism is the only way to counter it. We need suicide bomb squads to protect India and Hindus,". "If they kill one Hindu, we'll kill hundreds of them," he once said. Is he threatening the muslims? by his statement,which reads, "If Muslims behave this way, they won't be able to celebrate their festivals," he said. "Islamic terrorism is growing and Hindu terrorism is the only way to counter it. We need suicide bomb squads to protect India and Hindus," Thackeray wrote in 2008.
Views on People from North Indian
On March 6, 2008, Bal Thackeray issued an editorial titled Ek Bihari, Sau Bimari in Saamna, saying Biharis were "an unwanted lot" in the Maharashtra. In what was termed as an apparent bid to recapture his party's Marathi sons of soil plank, which was being hijacked by the MNS leader Raj Thackeray, Bal Thackeray wrote about Biharis,
"They are not wanted in southern India, Assam and also Punjab and Chandigarh. The Biharis have antagonised local population wherever they had settled. The UP-Bihari MPs have shown their ingratitude towards Mumbai and Maharashtra with an anti-Marathi tirade in Parliament."
He also denounced Bihari MPs, saying they were "spitting in the same plate from which they ate" by criticising Mumbaikars and Maharashtrians. He also wrote, "They are trying to add fuel to the fire that has been extinguished, by saying that Mumbaikars have rotten brains." Additionally, he criticized a major holiday celebrated by people from Bihar, UP, and MP which happens sometimes after the Hindu New Year known as Chath Pooja. He said that it wasn't a real holiday. The outburst was apparently in response to MPs from Bihar who had disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in protest against the attacks on North Indians.
Views against Abdul Kalam, President of India
Thackeray has been a vocal critic of the former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. Thackeray said Kalam was a leading scientist of the country but had "lost the dignity of the post" after he became President. He has criticized Kalam's indecisiveness regarding the conviction of Mohammad Afzal, who has been sentenced to death following his conviction for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Thackeray criticizes the fact that a convicted terrorist's appeal for clemency is even being considered by Kalam.
"Afzal was sentenced to death by the highest court in this country in October and yet the file has been sitting on the President's table for the past few years. I have not said anything wrong about Kalam. We all have supported him to become President. Afzal's clemency letter is still lying with the President. Give me another example where the President has not taken decision on a clemency petition for four months."
Admiration of Hitler
Thackeray has attracted controversy for his praise of Adolf Hitler.
"I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common. What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand."
In an interview with the Indian Express that was printed on January 29, 2007, Thackeray remarked,
"Hitler did very cruel and ugly things. But he was an artist, I love him for that. He had the power to carry the whole nation, the mob with him. You have to think what magic he had. He was a miracle ... The killing of Jews was wrong. But the good part about Hitler was that he was an artist. He was a daredevil. He had good qualities and bad. I may also have good qualities and bad ones."
In an article appearing in Newindpress.com on August 20, 2007, Thackeray is quoted as wanting to be a dictator and the Hitler of the whole of India:
He is on record as having told the Navakal: "Yes, I am a dictator. It is a Hitler that is needed in India today." He was once asked in a television programme whether he wanted to be the Hitler of Mumbai. "Do not underestimate me," he is reported to have retorted. "I am (the Hitler) of the whole of Maharashtra and want to be of whole of India." The Hitler question was put to him in September 1996 by Outlook magazine as well during an interview. "Once you’d expressed admiration for certain facets of Hitler." "Comparison was inevitable," the interviewer prompted. Thackaray said: "I have not sent anybody to the gas chamber. If I’d been like that, you wouldn't have dared to come and interview me."
Pro-Tamil Tiger Views
Thackeray has admitted that he is pro-Tamil Tiger. He says, "I am proud of the Tigers for the gallant manner in which they are fighting."
He also wanted a ban on the LTTE lifted by the center-wing government.
Latest Shivsena Party Situations
Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, and nephew Raj Thackeray led to divisions within the Shiv Sena. In addition to this, several old hands such as hard-line leader Narayan Rane were left the Sena.
On December 18, 2005, Raj Thackeray announced his resignation as a primary member of the Shiv Sena. On March 19, 2006, Raj announced the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Valentine's Day protests
Boycotting shops and restaurants that allow young people to celebrate the "western" holiday of Valentine's Day, interpreted as bestial, indecent andun-Indian by Thackeray, is one of his recent actions. On February 14, 2006, Bal Thackeray condemned and apologized for the violent attacks of Shiv Sena members upon a private Valentine's Day celebration in Mumbai. "It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice," Thackeray said, "I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed." Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, although they may support an "Indian alternative".
Conclusion of my article
I just want to show the positive approach of Bal Thackeray. Controversies was happened, are happening & will happen again but approach of this man, Indian politics cannot be ignored....

Biography of Bal Thackeray

Biography of Bal Thackeray

Balasaheb Keshav Thackeray was born on 23 January 1926 in Pune, Maharashtra, India, popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray, is an Indian politician, founder and chief of the Shiv Sena.

Balasaheb Thackeray was born to Keshav Sitaram Thackeray in a lower-middle class, marathi family. Keshav Thackeray was a progressive social activist and writer who was against caste biases and played a key role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalwal in the 1950s to form the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital.

Balasaheb Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai in the 1950s. 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. He used it to campaign against the growing influence of non-Marathi people in Mumbai targeting Gujaratis and South Indian labor workers.

He formed the Shiv Sena on 19 June 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 against immigrants from southern India, Gujaratis and Marwaris.

Politically, the Sena was anti-communist, and wrested control of major trade unions in Mumbai from the Communist Party of India and demanded protection money(extortion) from mainly Gujarati and marwari business leaders. It later allied itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the common issue of Hindu Nationalism which both parties believed in. The BJP-Shiv Sena combine won the 1995 Maharashtra State Assembly elections and came to power. During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Thackeray was nicknamed ‘remote control’ since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind the scenes.

On July 28, 1999 Bal Thackeray was banned from voting and contesting in any election for six years from December 11, 1995 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.

Thackeray has claimed that the Shiv Sena has helped the Marathi manoos (the Marathi commoner) in Mumbai and also fought for the rights of Hindu people,Thackeray is a staunch Hindu and believes that Hindus must be organised to struggle against those who oppose our identity and religion. especially in the public sector. Opposition leftist parties allege that the Shiv Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of ‘sons of the soil.’

Thackeray is very vocal in his controversial opposition to people who migrate to Mumbai, to non-Hindus (especially Muslims), and to illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. In the late 1960s to mid-1970s, as part of his ‘Maharashtra is for Maharashtrians’ campaign, Thackeray threatened migrants from South India with harm unless they left Mumbai.

BALA SAHEB THACKERAY'S SOCIAL VISIT

HINDU NATION & BALASAHEB THACKERAY'S VISION

The Nation of Our Dreams Balasaheb Thackeray's vision(Mr. Bal Thackeray, writing in a sponsored feature in the Indian Express, Mumbai onOctober 11, 1998)This is a Hindu nation. Here it is. Just as it was. And just as itwill be. Always, and forever....After 300 long years, the saffron flies again over Maharashtra. Thesaffron. The symbol of sacrifice. Prepare to welcome the saffron.The march has begun, never to stop. Shiv Sainiks will carry the flagto the East, to the West, to the North and to the South. Everywhere.We will cross the Sahyadris. And we will breach the Himalayas. We willpaint the ramparts of the Red Fort in saffron. We must fulfilChhatrapati Maharaj's dram. We must build the Hindustan of our dreams.It is a historic task we have set out to accomplish. So help us God.Everywhere in the country people are turning to the Shiv Sena.Anywhere you find a sense of insecurity among the Hindus, you will alsofind the Shiv Sena. For the endangered and the insecure, for thedeprived and the depraved (sic), the Shiv Sena is the only hope. TheShiv Sena can never betray the trust reposed by the hopeless millions.The Shiv Sena is not just a political party. It is a tree growinghuge,striking its roots into the soil of this land, spreading its vastbranches to protect and preserve Hindustan....It is our Hindustan we have to build. We have to create a Hindustanfor Hindus. We have to create a country where Hindus are respected.The country where Hindutva will shine in all its glory. A country wherethe anti-Hindu shall bow before the will of the Hindu. That is thecountry we have to build.....Look at our country. Our laws. Our rules. A whole long list ofdon'ts meant only for Hindus. And who are the ones who are empowered?The Mussalmans.How long are we to tolerate this? How long are we to stand by andwatch these antics in the name of religion? How long will those inpower fool us? How long can we pretend not to see what goes on in thename of concession to the so-called minorities?...Let us have a little laugh over our peculiar brand of secularism. Themicrophones blare at us spreading the word of Allah a good five times aday. But no Hindu can dare to play cymbals or beat the prayer drumswhile he passes the house of Allah.Secularism in our context is but an opportunistic impartiality, whichwas never intended to be, and therefore never will. It's just anothercoinage and convenience, a piece of useful jargon. But the intent isdeadly.Look under the cover of this impartiality, and you will find an unholyincest between purpose and intent.Opportunism is the prophylactic (sic), but the demon will surely beborn.Someday, someday very soon, when the purpose and the intent stand atcross-purposes, the membrane will be torn. And the bastard will beconceived. The monster will be born. And our land will be cursed.Look at the population. The growth in Hindu population is graduallyslowing down. But the Mussalman is on a rampage. From 30 million to130 million! As if he was born only to breed. Somehow, oh, somehow,can we somehow convince them that they are citizens of this country;tell them that their identity is not in danger; their existence is notin danger.I do not call the Mussalman a traitor. But unfortunately for them,their leadership is treacherous. The undoing of the Mussalmans in thissubcontinent is the lack of proper leadership. They have not had asingle good leader. Neither before, nor after the partition. Leadersof the stature of Maulana Azad and Hamid Dalwai failed to pass on theirdoctrines.And what we are left with are the likes of Shahbuddin, Bukhari andBanatwala. Tragicomic?.....As I see it, there are only two sects of peoples in our country. Onehas sworn allegiance to the country. The other is clearly against thecountry.And as far as I can see it, there has never been any other sect.....Forbeing an Indian, it is not only important to abide by our laws, but itis also important to live as we do, to accept our culture and to respectour traditions. And not only that, one must accept that Hinduism has byfar the largest following in this country. This must be remembered.Always.Those who refuse to accept this have no right to live in this country.Those who have all their lives spoken ill of Hindutva are not going tobe spared. Embrace this country in its entirety, as Hindustan. Elseleave.

IBN Lokmat - Balasaheb Thackeray wish - Raj Thackeray Uddhav Thackeray should come together

IBN Lokmat - Balasaheb Thackeray wish - Raj Thackeray Uddhav Thackeray should come together

 

Balasaheb Thackeray is 85 years old now.

7 Years back Raj left Shivsena and formed MNS , and today MNS is raising in Maharashtra.
MNS has given one new option to people of Maharashtra.


Balasaheb Thackeray in an interview given to Nikhil Wagle on 12the February 2012
told to Nikhil Wagle that both should that is Raj Thackeray and Uddhave Thackeray should come together for the benefit of Maharashtra.
Loss to Shivsena is less and more to Maharashtra.
Balasaheb also said that King Shivaji also fought with Mavala, that is Marathi people, People of Maharashtra.

Nikhil Wagle ask
Balasaheb why he do not invite both of them but Balasaheb said
How can he invite both horses and tell them join.


Balasaheb also said he may think or wish they should come together but what is the use of such thinking , they should come together and both should not have separated , should have stayed together.

If Raj comes and says sorry will you forgive him?
Balasaheb said he do not think he will come and say sorry.

Few days back Raj told in an interview that he is with the Shivsena of Balasaheb and not others.

Now question is Can they come together?

I do not think Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray will come together.
I do not think MNS and Shivsena will merge and there will be only one Shivsena.

For Political gains they both may come together.
If in BMC elections or Pune elections Raj becomes the king maker and without help of Raj no one can rule in such situations Shivsena and MNS will join hands that is the compulsion of
Politics.

Example is Congress and NCP that is Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi

Politics is the game where anything is possible but merging of Shivsena and MNS is impossible as there can be only one King, there can be only one Chief Minister and there can be only one Supremo or Chief of the any political party.

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray both are powerful , both are great and Maharashtra may get the 2 powerful parties MNS and Shivsena.

Thus No Merging of MNS and Shivsena.

For me I think 2 parties are good for Maharashtra, competition is good in Politics and
I hope more and more people will join the politics and start their own political parties.

Balasaheb Thakre's Son

Uddhav Thackeray Photography - Thakre Balasaheb Thakre's Son
For those who feel that Maharashtrian culture is waning, here is a story to lift your spirits.  Maharashtra’
s very own Uddhav Thackeray will be traveling to Philadelphia, USA for the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal’s (BMM) cultural convention to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre, Philadelphia, between 2nd July and 5th July, 2009. The convention will be attended by over 4,000 Maharashtrians from the US as well as India.

BMM has invited Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray for the convention for an exhibition of his aerial photography of Maharashtra, India. A BMM spokesperson made it clear that Uddhav Thackeray was invited for his camera skills and not as a politician.

“The visual vocabulary of Maharashtra is mystical. From the centuries-old Ajanta and Ellora Caves to Shivaji Maharaj’s forts to the towering skyscrapers of Mumbai, Maharashtra’s rich history and heritage, natural beauty, architectural wonders, vibrant people and a colorful and diverse culture are poetic. I have made a humble attempt to capture the magic of Maharashtra through the lens of my camera. This exhibition of my photos  are a small token of my gratitude to Maharashtra, the land that I’m blessed to be born in and whose denizens have given me unconditional love,” says Uddhav Thackeray.

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will inaugurate the convention on July 3. Socialist activist Anna Hazare will be the chief guest.  Industrialist Baba Kalyani, chairman, Kalyani Group, will be the key note speaker. Spiritual speakers like Shankar Abhyankar and Swami Madhavanand will also be present.

BMM’s 14th convention of the Marathi speaking community in the US will be a bonanza for participants given the cultural, literary, theatrical-cinematic and social treats on the card.
Legendary singer Asha Bhosale will be honored with Vishwa Gaurav Puraskar on July 4. Over 100 Marathi artists and theatre personalities like Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale, Pradeep Patwardhan and Vandana Gupte will attend and performing the event which will host 30 cultural programs will attend and perform at the three-day convention.

Achanak, Gabhricha Paus, Tandala, Wavtal and Made in China are the five Marathi films that have been shortlisted for the festival. Live performances by renowned artists in music, dance and drama will be staged.

“I am here as a photographer and not as the leader of the Shiv Sena. For me, this convention is an opportunity to showcase Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage to future generations,” Thackeray explains.

Uddhav Thackeray is looking forward to the opportunity of making his contribution to the promotion of Marathi culture, and hopes that the younger generation will embrace their heritage with pride.

# # #

The Brihan Maharashtra Mandal’s (BMM) cultural convention to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre, Philadelphia, between 2nd July and 5th July, 2009.

Uddhav Thackeray is Executive President of the Shiva Sena, Maharashtra, India. Mr Thackeray is also a renowned photographer.
udhav thakre's photography

‘Why is Balasaheb Thackeray silent?’

‘Why is Balasaheb Thackeray silent?’

dot'n angry me

Shankar was a renowned cartoonist. He had aptly depicted the reality of the time the Constitution was being drawn up by inking the now-controversial Ambedkar cartoon. There is nothing objectionable about it, of course. Needless to say, that the latest controversy only hinges on politics.

There is political tussle between the Congress and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. The cartoon about Ambedkar has become an alibi in this political fight. Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray is a renowned and much revered cartoonist, then why is he silent on the controversy? Is it due to the political alliance that Shiv Sena has formed with Republican Party of India?

Manoj Bidkar

Mangesh Tendulkar at his residence on Tuesday
There are many thinkers and talented people in the Dalit community, but they are forced to keep quiet on this issue.

Cartoon is a language of lines. It is just like Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit. If there can be discussions about Ambedkar in these languages, then why can’t he be expressed through cartoons? By imposing a ban on cartoons of some people, this art form is being pushed out of the limits of civilisation. It is a new kind of unsociability.

It is imperative that the language of cartoons be taught. It is a visual language like cinema or sculpture. If a film on Ambedkar or his statue is acceptable then why not his cartoon? If Ambedkar’s cartoon is not allowed then why should there be those of Gandhi, Nehru, Vinobha Bhave or Manmohan Singh? Did those cause any disrespect to them?

If this is the attitude of the powers-that-be, then they may as well abolish this art form. In that light then, if this is perceived as only a vehicle for making fun of people then the Padma awards given to cartoonists must be revoked. It is ironical that the government recognises the contribution of cartoonists as artists and at the same time decides to remove cartoons from text books.

It is an erroneous judgement to remove all cartoons from the textbooks. How can an art form be banned from books? Cartoons drawn by S D Fadnis are used extensively in textbooks prepared by Bal Bharati for Maharasthra. Would you remove those too?

Compared to other art forms, cartoon is comparatively new in the league. It has history of only 200 years. There are many misunderstandings about this art, which is why you will find that many cartoonists are hauled up for their work. There is lampooning in languages also. If there can be criticism about some political leader through the written word then why not through the cartoons?

If an artist takes his creative licence for granted and uses it to defame a revered figure, then sure, a case can be filed against him. But if there is no such character assassination, then there can be no support for the ban. We claim to be a democracy and believe in freedom of expression.

However, there are no affirmations here that make me feel a free man. Our democracy has merely been reduced to January 26 and August 15 celebrations. My observation is that politicians do not like cartoons. They only pretend to appreciate them. So, they decided to ban them from textbooks when opportunity presented itself.

Cartoon as an art form is on the verge of extinction. There are not many cartoonists around today. If there are so many restrictions on cartoons like those from religious groups or government or some social groups, then how can this art form survive? - As told to Dinesh Thite

  Ruckus outside prof Palshikar’s residence

Three days after his University of Pune (UoP) office was ransacked over the cartoon row, NCERT advisor and HoD of political science and public administration Prof Suhas Palshikar’s Senapati Bapat Road residence was attacked by around 13 members of the Republican Vidhyarthi Sena. However, police rounded up members of the RPI’s student wing as soon as they started shouting slogans.


Republican Vidhyarthi Sena members protest on Tuesday
They had gathered in front of Palshikar’s residence with some cartoon strips to fight an ‘intellectual battle’, they said. Senior PI Ajay Kadam of Chatuhshrungi police station said they arrested 13 persons including top office bearers Vivek Bansode and Vishal Mhaske. “They were produced before a local court later in the day,” Kadam added.

Suspects had ransacked Palshikar’s office on May 11 after the controversy over Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s cartoon in school textbooks.

BALASAHEB THAKRE FAMILY

ORGIN OF BALASAHEB THAKRE FAMILY

balasaheb thakre & her family

INDIA TV and some of Bihari political party leaders misleading country about origin of Shri Balashaheb Thakre and his family, some are saying Thakre family originated from Bihar and other one saying Thakre family belongs to MadhyaPradesh or Rajsthan,True facts is Thakre family’s root in Kashmir.Here is some vedic and historical facts about Thakre and CKP community.
Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) (Marathi: is a Kshatriya caste of India. They share many common rituals along with Brahmins like Munj and the study of Vedas and Sanskrit. The Sword and the Pen were tools of this community for centuries. Members of this community are mostly found in certain parts of Maharashtra in India. They are said to be one of the designated "brave helpers of Maharashtra" as proclaimed by Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire in his "Mala Ek Swapna Ahe" speech. The roots of this community lie in Indus Valley from Kashmir to Thatta on Arabian sea coast, wherein their current location is a result of the downfall of various kingdoms which were ruled or were resided in by the community's families (7th-8th Century A.D.) The last known migration was in 1305 A.D. wherein 42 families finally arrived in Maharashtra. In actuality, there are only 42 original last names that can be linked to the community which derive from the last surviving families that migrated to Maharashtra in 1305 A.D. The remaining surnames are derived from the 42 original last names, and there is a possibility that there may have been other original last names but were lost as the families died. Few of the original names are Bendre, Pradhan, Gupte, Dalvi, Chawale, Garude, Chitre, Jayvant, Nachane, Phanase, Mohile, Tamhane, Vaidya, Teware, Vakhare, Bhise, Likhite, Kamte, Satpute, Jawale, Tavkar, Vaidhya, Deopare, Bahire, Sule, Patne, Pangu, Korde, Tungari, Kulkarnik, Dighe, Randive, Raje, Kshipre, Skrukale, Durve, Khatik, Nabhik, Sabhasad, ) migrated towards Maharashtra and Karnataka. From Maharashtra some families went and settled all over the world. Migration is still continuing now mainly for professional aspirations or economical reasons.

The word "Chandraseniya," by some historians, is ascribed to the original home of the community in the valley of Chenab in Kashmir a river also known as Chandra in Sanskrit. It is said that the word "seniya" is corruption of Sanskrit word "shreni" meaning a group of people. Thus the term chandraseniya literally means the people of Chandra or Chenab.
DNA Mapping of CKPs
Origin of kayastha community cannot be pinpointed at any particular location but as per the DNA mapping as well of the physiological appearance & cooking habbits eg.liberal use of poppyseeds for CKP food preperations (Dietry can be influenced by the topography & climate where they are residing) indicates Kayasthas were mainly inhabiting Indus basin from time of Mohenjedaro & Harrappa serving various chieftans & kings ruling Indus basins as administrators or officials of chieftans army.As per studies conducted by International Institute of Population Studies in research about migration of communities from Indus basin mentions of DNA of CKP nearly matches 94.3%DNA of Somvanshiya Kshatriya Pathare Prabhu ,88.6% with Goud Saraswat Brahmin community from Karwar & Goa ,89.2% with Khatri community living in Indus basin in Punjab,Kashmir,Sind provinces. In Maharastra, 87.1% with Deshastha Brahmin ,59.5 % with chitpavans. DNA verification of CKPs with Kayasthas located in Ganga basin indicates matching of 86.3% with those located in Upper Ganga Basin eg Haryana,Uttarpradesh & Bihar ,85,2% with from Gangatic Delta region of Bengal.DNA matching of CKP with other communities like Bhanadari,Agri,Koli,Marathas is greater than 76.9% indicates CKP as a community was more open to intermarriages with other communities than their counterparts such as Parsis ,Kokanstha Brahmin of Konkan,Nagar Brahmins of Gujrat or Jains from Rajastan whose DNA mapping distinguishes them from other communities. The origins on the maternal side (mt-DNA) H (mt-DNA), HV (mt-DNA), X (mt-DNA) and N1 (mt-DNA) haplgroups.indicates presence of West Asian and Dravidian mt-DNA haplogroups. On the paternal side (Y-DNA), R1a (Y-DNA) is the most frequently found haplogroup. Incidentally, this haplogroup is also commonly found amongst North Indians especially Khatri or Rajput community.Presence of Haplogroup J2 (Y-DNA) is another frequently found haplogroup considered to be of West asian origin which distinguishes CKPs from other community like SKP/GSB/Brahmin /Bhandari/Agri/ Maratha communities except few Koli clans of Kutch & Konkan. There is also a significant presence of Haplogroups L (Y-DNA), and H1 (Y-DNA) which are believed to be of Indian origin and dominantly found in Western Indian peninsula.
Vedic origin
The Kayastha trace their genealogy from Adi Purush Shri Chitraguptaji Maharaj. It is said that after Lord Brahma had created the four Varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras), Yama (Dharamraj) requested Lord Brahma to help him record the deeds, both good and evil, of men, and administer justice.
Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding a pen and ink-pot in his hands, as well as a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta. Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma. Thus, the Kayasthas were accorded a dual caste, Brahmin/Kshatriya.SEE NOTES
In the legends of Shree Chitraguptaji Maharaj, he is referred to as the greatest King, while the rest are "Rajakas," or little kings.
In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.
"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)
The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals.
"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."
The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta :
"Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."'
Ancient History of CKP Community

balasaheb thakre & her wife

Descendants of King Chandrasen, his son Kayastha, and Kayastha's son Somraj, ruled Kashmir and most of central India. Chandrasen, son of great King Sahastrararjun, was killed by Parshuram (The great warrior, in order to fulfill his wish to kill every Kshtriya on earth). Chandrasen's pregnant wife Ganga / Kamala took asylum with Dalabhya mooni. Parshuram demanded mooni to hand over Ganga, but the mooni very wisely asked him to spare this pregnant women. Parshuram agreed to Mooni's request and blessed her that the child born from her ' KAYA " would be called "Kayastha." Parshuram said as his father's kingdom has been destroyed; he and his ascendant would live with the help of sword and ink (Asijivi/Masijivi). This is a mythological story but all agree in saying that it means the descendants of the king Chandrasen who was the Kshatriya (warrior by profession) king, the son of Sahastrararjun of the Haiyaya family. Another point is tribes of kaya province are Kayastha. The province kaya means Ayodhaya. According to Mr. H.S. Wilson (1819), Kayastha means the Supreme Being, the writer caste born of Kshatriya father and Shudra mother. The word Prabhu means supreme or powerful. As we read the Origin of CKP's is from Kashmir and North India. The Pandavas, Kauravas, and Gupt Vansh are all Chandravanshis. Institute of population studies comments after recent research findings that people from Indus basins from Mohenjedaro-Harrapa were freely using poppy seeds in the food preparations which is the case of CKPs who use poppyseeds liberally among all communities in Maharashtra-Gujrat in their foodpreperations.But kayastha community located in Ganga basin differs with CKP as Kayasthas from Ganga basin were not aware of use of poppy seeds in food preparations may be due to geographical reasons.May be the climatic changes occurred in Indus valley civilisation after 1 st political-economical migration of Kayasthas took place so climate later on became favourable for growing & use of poppy seeds for use in food preperations.As per United nations study about community migrations CKPs had its origin from Indus valley,this community always being in administrative & professional services of subsequent rulers were located dispersely in Indus basin covering Kashmir-Punjab-Sind-Baluchistan. Kolis-Agris-Bhandaris who trace their origin from Baluchistan-Sind-Gujrat-Konkan are following common rituals of worshipping goddesses as CKPs, worshipping goddesses is essential part of Dravidian culture as per findings from Mohenjedaro-Harrapa.Indus Valley had trade links with coastal Gujrat(Lothal-Khambat)-Kutch(Dwarka)-Konkan(Nalasopara-Kalyan-Chowl) also with civilizations from Nile & Euphrates river basins.Early exposure to this foreign culture through traders while conducting administration in Indus valley civilization CKPs started observing rituals distinct from Brahminical rituals& CKPs continued administrative jobs for new rulers even after Indus valley kingdoms were overrun by Persians-Kushans & Arabs .
Middle-Age History
Chinese travelers mentions about Shaiv-Kayastha kings in Kashmir in 5 th century. These kings used to talk in Sanskrit and one such king even composed a poem set namely ‘Rajatagini’ which describes beautiful scene of Kasmir and Himachal Pradesh. In the 7th and 8th century, Kayasthas were Prominent rulers in Kashmir state and later they shifted from Kashmir to northern India and madhya bharat in late 10 th century due to invasion from Islamic rulers. Sometime during the advent of Budhism, the last CKP kingdom was lost and the community moved to Mandugadh where they held important positions in the court of the Parmars.

Migration from Kashmir to Sindh
CKPs continued administrating Sind-Multan-Kashmir kingdoms u reduction in trade related activities migration of communities upwards in Indus basin from Thatta on Arabian sea coast of Sind-Baluchistan where Indus river meets Arabian sea started towards Multan - Kashmir.
Migration from Sindh to West Namrda Valley
Mohammed of Gazani paralysed administration setup in Indus valley kingdoms through his numerous invasions in year 1027,this triggered migration for forefathers of CKPs , Through trade & political links CKPs were having knowledge of prosperous eastern kingdoms having favourable similar religious setup, these people decided to move eastward . CKPs moved along Indus river & embarked through port of Thatta in Sind-Baluchistan to reach Dwarka in Kutch & later Khambat in Gujrat then along river Narmada moved upto Madavgarh to take up positions in Parmar’s court .Had these people been from agrarian community they would have settled at one place for farm related activities.These people in good number were looking for big prosperous kingdom where most could find administrative jobs or occupation.Parmar’s court served their immediate needs as it had CKPs already serving in his court.
Arrival in Maharastra
In year 1298 Alludin Khilji attacked Madavgarh & destroyed Parmar kingdom CKPs who had lost their occupational jobs migrated through Narmada river to Daman,Kalyan in Gujrat ,Chowl,Dabhol,Goa,Karwar in Konkan to settle in Chalukya-Solanki-Yadav governed towns.Few among these settlers around Daman-Kalyan took farming related activities along with administrative jobs to develop in separate community known as Pathare prabhu or Somvanshiya Kshatriya Prabhu .After fall of Vasai in 1739 most came settled in Mumbai.Thee genetically nearest community to CKPs like Goud Saraswat Brahmins(GSB) who settled in south konkan coast of Goa-Karwar.There are many common name in CKP & GSBs as Karnik,Bendre,Kulkarni,Prabhu.few of kayasthas who settled in deccan plateau in towns like Paithan,Junnar,Wai,Nasik,Karhad got mixed with Deshastha Brahmin community already settled there to take up common names from them eg Deshpande,Kulkarni,Dixit,Vaidya,Kshemkalyani.Many CKPs also have few common surnames along with the ruling clans from maratha-Bhandari-Agri-Koli communities took up names as Palkars,Deshmukh,Satpute,Ranadive,Patankar,Bhise,Desai,Nachane,Dalvi,Angre which are common in many communities.CKP migration 1 st in year 1035 from Thatta in Sind-Baluchistan to Gujrat & later from Gujrat to Konkan coast was not migration of few families but migration of a community comprising Administrative officials ,Merchants,Priest & tradesman known as bara balutedar like Khatik,Nabhik & others. However, bramhins led boyott(gramanyas) on them from 1300 to 1850. The most famous example is when Mr. Balaji Avji Chitnis wanted to perform the Thread ceremony ( Munj ) on his son. Brahmins did not allow him saying " Prabhu's are not Brahmins and are from lower caste, hence thread ceremony cannot be performed on them". Mr. Chitnis got letter from then Shankarachaya Vidhanrusingha Bharati from Karvir Peeth, in year 1913, which said "Prabhu's are Rajanya Kshatriyas (Royal warriors)". Only Rajanya Kshatriyas (warrior by profession ) are allowed to do thread ceremony, so though Maratha's are Kshatriyas thread ceremony is not performed on them. Only exceptions were Bhonsale's who were decedents of Sisodia Royal family of Rajasthan. The Letter written by Shankaracharya can be found in office of Bombay Gazzette. This community is at Par with Brahmins in performing Vedic rituals.
Period of Maratha Empire
During Shivaji Maharaj’s period, this was the only community, who along with Brahmins, held higher administration positions like Chitins, Sabnis, Karkhanis and Mujumdar. They had also played a good role in the army of Maratha Empire during Shivaji Maharaj’s time and later during Peshwai’s period. It was also mentioned that during historic attack of Marathas on Afghans in 1751, Sardar Gupte of Pune led the battle of attock (read : ??????? ?????? in Marathi) In late 17th century, few deshastha Brahmins understood the importance of Kayastha administrators and warriors. King of Aundh Sasthan and Pratindhi of Chatrapati-"Tribak Kulkarni- Kinhakar" broke the rules of “Gramanyas” (boycott) and started inviting them to Religious ceremonies related with his family and started “Pangat” with Kayasthas which was against the Orthodox Brahmin rules at that time. Great writers from Mandesh Ga Di Madgularkar had mentioned one story about this. Parshuram Tribak Pratindhi and his decedents kept this activity going on;as a result many CKPs migrated to Satara and Kolhapur Districts in late 17th century. Many CKPs got apponintement as Karkhanis and Gadkari at some forts near Satara like Vasota,Vardhangad etc.
CKP community in Peshwai
All the administators during Chatrapati Shivaji to Rajaram Maharaj's period were either Deshastha Bramhins or Prabhus this evidnece had reflected in many common surnames between both Deshastha and CKP communities like Deshpande,Kulkarni,Chitnis,Gadkari,Karkhanis,Deshmukh,Tipnis, Jamenis etc.
Prior to 1713 all Peshwes( Prime Minsiters) of Maratha Empire were Deshasthas but later Chatrapati appointed chitpavan peshwes from 1713 to 1803. Especially,during 1750-1790, CKPs and Deshasthas faced lot of problems due to Pro-chitpavan(and anti-ckp,anti-debra) attitude of Nanasaheb Peshwe. CKPs who by mid 18 th centuary had established them selves in managing administrative setups for Angre clan at Alibaug & Suvarnadurg in Malabar-Konkan coast,Gaekwad clan in Gujrat,Bhonsales in Berar province,Ghorpades in Karnataka as well as other maratha chieftans from Dewas,Dhar,Indore,Kolhapur,Satara,Akkalkot were at loggerheads with Kokansta Brahmins for political & economical reasons.Both the communities were vying for similar postings in such administrations.CKPs being favoured by rulers hindu or muslims were made scapegoat by vested interest from Peshwa durbar at Pune especially during rule of Nanasaheb Peshwa ,Madhavrao Peshwa & Nana Phadanvis.This was exact period of Brahmanical revival in Hindu religion in which Brahmins were placed in the topmost position in the hindu hierarcy.CKPs who as local administrators for (Yavana) muslim rulers prior to peshwai had interactions with muslim & budhist rulers.Knowingly or Unknowingly taken habits of these rulers which Brahmin hierarcy found not acceptable eg sacrifice of animals to deity ,eating nonvegetable food during religious functions,donation of money to bride as meher,worshiping fakirs or sufisaints& fasting . Moreever CKPs were never having numerical strength to seek attention of rulers.Chitpavan Kokanasta Brahmins who outnumbered CKPs many times isolated CKPs further to hit CKPs economically & politically by denying CKPs the right for performing thread ceremony which was nothing more of attaining right to perform religious functions like vedic rituals a obligation of ruling class in brahminical way of thinking as declared by Brahmin rulers of that time.Morever CKPs found themselves always at loggerheads with peshwas starting from Balaji Vishvanath 1st Chitpavan peshwa who usurped powers from Tarabai faction which CKPs sided.Prabhu community who were earliest members of Shivaji dream of swaraj found themselves marginalized after Balaji Vishvanath became 1 st Peshwa.Except Sardar Gupte who was commander in chief of Raghunathrao sworn enemy of Nana Phadanvis during his Attock operation no notable CKP ever served Peshwai & most joined rivals of Peshwas.This may have also antgonised Peshwa administration further.

'Backing Pranab doesn't mean Shiv Sena is supporting Congress': Uddhav Thackeray

                                                        Balasaheb thakre

Mumbai -  Shiv Sena's executive president Uddhav Thackeray has clarified that backing UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for the coveted post of President of India does not mean his  political outfit is supporting the ruling Congress Party.

"Our support is not to the Congress. You must have read the statement of Balasaheb (Thackeray) where he said that the President is the country's highest constitutional post," said  Thackeray.

"Last time, we had supported Pratibha Tai (Pratibha Patil), and T. N. Seshan before that. This does not mean that we are leaving the NDA for the Congress," he added.

Thackeray further said that the Shiv Sena perceives Pranab Mukherjee as a good candidate for the President's post.

"The NDA, of which we are a part, has not decided upon a Presidential candidate. Therefore we perceive Pranab Mukherjee as a good candidate, whose career we have all seen," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray's father and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray had written in support of Mukherjee's bid in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

Bal Thackeray, in a statement in Saamna, cited consensus as the reason for his party's support to Mukherjee.

"Let us show to the world that we are one,'" he said, and took potshots at the various political parties for lowering the prestige of the office of India's President.

The BJP is yet to take a decision on the presidential candidate. Moreover, Kalam's decision not to contest the presidential poll has now imposed more pressure on the BJP, as they will now  either have to back Sangma or come out with a new name for the coveted post after holding due consultations.

The NDA during its nearly two-hour long meeting on Sunday failed to firm up a position on the presidential election, as it was divided over opposing UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee and  there was lack of clarity on extending support to Sangma.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.