Bal Thackeray, Political Leader
Political Leader

Bal Thackeray

Born 23 January 1926 · Maharashtra — Died 17 November 2012

Founded Shiv Sena, a right-wing Marathi regionalist and Hindu nationalist political party in Maharashtra.

Bal Keshav Thackeray, also known as Balasaheb Thackeray, was an Indian cartoonist and politician who founded the original Shiv Sena, a right-wing Marathi regionalist and a Hindu nationalist party, active mainly in the state of Maharashtra.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Michael Jackson once visited Bal Thackeray and reportedly autographed the toilet he used, receiving a silver tabla and tanpura in return from Thackeray’s family.

The Story

1
In 1960, Bal Thackeray left his cartoonist job at The Free Press Journal in Bombay and launched the political weekly Marmik, using sharp cartoons and fiery editorials to challenge the influx of non-Marathis into Mumbai's workforce.
2
🛡️ On June 19, 1966, Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena, a party designed to defend Marathi identity and employment, which officially registered as a political party by 1968 and contested its first Lok Sabha elections in 1971.
3His father, Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, was a social activist involved in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and changed the family surname from 'Panvelkar' to 'Thackeray' after admiring the British writer William Makepeace Thackeray.
4🎭 Bal Thackeray’s cartoons appeared not only in Indian papers but also in Japan’s Asahi Shimbun and The New York Times Sunday edition, illustrating his early international reach before turning fully to politics.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1999, the Election Commission banned Bal Thackeray from voting and contesting elections for six years, a rare electoral sanction for appealing to voters on religious grounds.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Bal Thackeray attending the 70th Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards ceremony (2012)
Bal Thackeray attending the 70th Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards ceremony (2012)
2012
Bal Thackeray receiving the NBC Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)
Bal Thackeray lying in state after his death (2012)
Bal Thackeray with Ram Bhankal, Shiv Sena leader (2014)
Bal Thackeray with Bala Sawant, Shiv Sena politician (2016)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth of Bal Thackeray in Pune
Born to Keshav Sitaram Thackeray and Ramabai Thackeray in Pune, Maharashtra, into the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu community.
1926
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Career
Launch of Marmik weekly
Left The Free Press Journal to start his own political weekly Marmik in Bombay, campaigning against non-Marathi migrants.
1960
⚡
Career
Founding of Shiv Sena
Established Shiv Sena in Mumbai to protect Marathi interests and employment, marking the start of a new political force.
1966
⚡
Career
Shiv Sena registered as political party
Shiv Sena obtained official political party status, enabling it to contest elections.
1968
⚡
Career
First Lok Sabha elections contested
Shiv Sena fielded candidates for the first time in the national parliamentary elections.
1971
📖
Publication
Launch of Saamana newspaper
Founded the Marathi-language newspaper Saamana, becoming the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena’s ideology.
1989
🌟
Other
Election ban imposed on Thackeray
The Election Commission banned him from voting and contesting elections for six years for religious appeals in politics.
1999
🕊️
Death
Death of Bal Thackeray
Died of cardiac arrest in Mumbai, prompting a massive state funeral and deployment of over 20,000 police for peace.
2012
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
💡SURPRISING

Bal Thackeray’s cartoons were published internationally, including in Japan's Asahi Shimbun and The New York Times Sunday edition, before he fully committed to politics.

02 / 05
👤PERSONAL

His father changed the family surname from 'Panvelkar' to 'Thackeray' inspired by British author William Makepeace Thackeray, linking the family name to colonial literary history.

03 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Michael Jackson visited Bal Thackeray and was gifted a silver tabla and tanpura; in an unusual gesture, Jackson autographed the toilet he used during the visit.

No quote recorded for Bal Thackeray yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Balasaheb’s Statement on Being Prime Minister
·YouTube
More from this archive
Balasaheb’s Statement on Being Prime Minister
01
Balasaheb’s Statement on Being Prime Minister
YouTube
Balasaheb Thackeray in Aap Ki Adalat (Full Interview)
02
Balasaheb Thackeray in Aap Ki Adalat (Full Interview)
YouTube
Mr Balasaheb Thackeray rare interview by Karan Thapar
03
Mr Balasaheb Thackeray rare interview by Karan Thapar
YouTube
EP-04:Bal Thackeray: Shiv Sena's Bold Leader, Known for Hindutva Passion and Anti-Muslim Controversy
04
EP-04:Bal Thackeray: Shiv Sena's Bold Leader, Known for Hindutva Passion and Anti-Muslim Controversy
YouTube
24 Hours with Bal Thackeray (Aired: January 1998)
05
24 Hours with Bal Thackeray (Aired: January 1998)
YouTube
Vansh: Journey of Shiv Sena Party and Founder Bal Thackeray
06
Vansh: Journey of Shiv Sena Party and Founder Bal Thackeray
YouTube
The Balasaheb Thackeray Interview-1
07
The Balasaheb Thackeray Interview-1
YouTube
Balasaheb Thackeray Speech: जिगरबाज बाळासाहेब! तुफान गाजलेलं बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांचं जबरदस्त भाषण
08
Balasaheb Thackeray Speech: जिगरबाज बाळासाहेब! तुफान गाजलेलं बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांचं जबरदस्त भाषण
YouTube
🚩Balasaheb Thackeray 🔥 90s Mumbai Ka Darr | Rare Throwback Interview
09
🚩Balasaheb Thackeray 🔥 90s Mumbai Ka Darr | Rare Throwback Interview
YouTube
Political Giants Collide: The Story of Sharad Pawar and Balasaheb Thackeray #sharadpawar
10
Political Giants Collide: The Story of Sharad Pawar and Balasaheb Thackeray #sharadpawar
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Bal Thackeray transformed Mumbai's political scene by mobilizing Marathi identity into a powerful regional force through Shiv Sena, challenging migrant labor dynamics and redefining urban politics. His leadership shifted Maharashtra towards a more overt Hindu nationalist stance, influencing policies like renaming Bombay to Mumbai and intensifying regional cultural pride. Shiv Sena's aggressive street politics and media control through Saamana reshaped political campaigning and discourse in the state.

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