The Sena jawan

The teenager first made news after the publication of his book of poems,My Thoughts in Black and White,and then later in 2008,when his music album,Ummeed,was released amidst much fanfare by his grandfather and Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and film star Amitabh Bachchan.

Now,after dealing with problems related to the youth and students,Aditya,the elder son of Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray,plans to focus on issues related to the education system. Aditya,who met Governor S C Jamir earlier this month seeking his intervention in the teachers’ strike,said he would work on issues related to education,and if the Sena formed the government he would try to “revamp the education system”.

A second-year Arts student at St Xavier’s College,Aditya stressed the need for the education system to be “modernised and liberalised”,and more “practical and employment-oriented”. He had also met Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope,seeking to end the impasse caused due to the teachers’ strike.

Aditya,who has Political Science,English and History as his subjects,said he had taken up the issue of the strike as he was himself “stuck in it”.

However,when asked about the possibility of him entering politics in the days to come,the Thackeray cub — who has founded an NGO,The Dream We Share,with BJP leader and designer Shaina NC — is guarded. With an avid interest in music,writing and having imbibed his father’s love for photography,he says that he is busy with college as well and does not have plans to enter politics just yet. He,however,admits that there is a “50:50 chance” that he may work “backdoor” for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

On whether he would seek a more active role for himself in the Sena’s students wing,Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena — where uncle and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray cut his political teeth — Aditya said he was working “behind the scenes” with the organisation.

Aditya’s associates,who insist that his interventions in the college teachers strike were “not a platform to enter politics”,say he is active in social circles and interacts routinely with BVS leaders including president Abhijit Panse and Samadhan Sarvankar,the son of Dadar MLA Sada Sarvankar.

Replying to questions,Aditya said there were discussions underway on whether he should work in the Sena’s campaign in the polls. “(You may be able to) perhaps see me in interactions,” said Aditya,who is known to accompany his father on political rallies.

“You have been born into the Thackeray family,and hence have a scope in all fields,” Bal Thackeray had advised his grandson at the launch of his music album in January last year. While calling on Aditya to continue his journey further,he had some sage advice too: Don’t “drive rashly”,instead “tread the middle path”.