Return to the root cause

The real eye-popper in this renewed burst of Marathi pride is the timing. In1985, the Sena abandoned its Marathi plank for the then politically morebeneficial Hindutva and kept it buried even during the four-and-a-half yearsof its rule in Maharashtra. Not once did the party insist on Marathisignboards or jobs for locals when it was in power, despite being armed witha 1973 government notification that natives of the state should getpreference in employment.

Loss of power has awakened the party to disillusionment among Maharashtrians the sustaining power that drives the Sena and the latest crusade isbeing seen as a frantic attempt to hold on to this bedrock of backing.Especially at a time when the Hindutva coin has dented value. Restoration ofMarathi pride goes hand-in-hand with the restoration of the Sena.

As for its political benefits, there are doubts. 8220;Picking up the Marathiplank will be self-defeating for the Sena. At one time, the sons-of-the-soilphilosophy suited it best. Even today, it will suit the Sena outside Mumbai,but in Mumbai, where the Marathi population is dropping and that ofnon-Marathis increasing by the day, what was once the Sena8217;s strength willnow be its weakness. Instead, if the Sena picks civic issues like providingfacilities ambulance service, blood donation, etc which it is known for,it will gain,8221; says Dr Aroon Tikekar, editor of Mumbai8217;s largest-sellingMarathi daily Loksatta.

The Marathi population in Mumbai, which was 42 per cent in 1961, has gonedown to 20 per cent today. Thus, the alienation of 80 per cent of the city8217;spopulation could not possibly bring political rewards. 8220;But social workfirst and politics later is our mantra. The Sena looks at the justness of acause while launching agitations,8221; claims Sena leader and former ministerGajanan Kirtikar, who heads the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti that hasspearheaded the recent offensive.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, however, argues: 8220;Why did theyremember Marathi only now? Only because no other plank is working.8221; TheBJP, Sena8217;s ally, is more diplomatic. 8220;We support the demand for Marathiboards, but Sena should have first tried to convince shopkeepers,8221; notesBJP8217;s Mumbai unit chief Vinod Tawde. Janata Dal leader Mrinal Gore, going astep further and disregarding the State Shops and Establishments Act whichmakes Marathi boards mandatory, says: 8220;Nobody can enforce Marathi boards.People must do what they want.8221;

Sena chief Bal Thackeray, on his part, insists non-Marathis must embrace thelocal culture. 8220;When we go to Gujarat or Bengal, we absorb, adapt andaccommodate. Others should act similarly. We are Marathi in Maharashtra,Bangla in Bengal and Hindu in Hindustan. We cannot ignore our Marathi boys.Signboards have to be in Marathi, and locals must get preference in jobs.The law is clear on this,8221; he says.

Clarity of the law notwithstanding, the Sena will have to do a precariousbalancing act if it hopes to play champion for Maharashtrianism and Hindutvaat the same time. It has not given up on Hindutva yet. 8220;That8217;s the need ofthe hour,8221; says Thackeray. How, then, does the party hope to straddle bothplanks is not clear.

What is clear, though, are the attempts to revive memories of the 70s8217;agitations in the minds of Sainiks and Sena backers who have drifted awayfrom the party and to revitalise a now-sluggish party organisation byagitations that carry a distinctive Sena stamp on them. So what if Mumbai8217;snon-Maharashtrians abhor these tactics and Marathi people too respond withcynicism? 8220;Initially there may be cynicism, but once the agitations gainmomentum, there will be a reignition of enthusiasm and unhappy Sainiks willjump back into the fold. So will the Marathi middle and lower classes, whoform the party8217;s foundation,8221; says a Sena leader.

Work has begun to rebuild the base. This done, the Sena8217;s reasoning goes,the rest of the structure can take care of itself. Hence the return to theMarathi manoos.

This Sena cause is for effect.
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