he is a fanatic, for his region, people, language. alrite.
now there are fanatics everywhere, some are vocal, more diplomatic ones aren’t. in a city where i live in, chennai, you have to understand tamil, no matter what to survive… they refuse to incorporate hindi – which is our neutral national language..in gujarat, do you think there are any prosperous other language / region people ? in delhi, or say punjab – unless you are fair skinned or you can talk about big things n bigger contacts n multiply your facts by 5 while talking to anyone, an honest person cannot survive and is walked over… our widely praised ‘cosmopolitan bangalore’ is not any different too ( http://www.ibnlive.com/news/antioutsider-voices-gain-pitch-in-bangalore-too/59005-3.html ) some other minorities like muslims and christians taking advantage of prevalent misery n poverty in this religiously liberal country, convert people to their religions, resort to extremism etc.
coming back to maharashtra n for that matter mumbai, the inherent local who has earned the title ‘marathi maanus’ is an adjusting, accommodative, open to all, non enterprising, middle class business executive/doctor etc etc whos voice easily gets lost in this display of strength.
mumbai has always been n will always be a welcoming city for all, which is a pot pouri of cultures n opportunities. however, these ‘quiet fanatics’ take disadvantage of exactly the same fact…start forming their pockets with unwritten understood rules… a gujarati real estate broker shall mention a price of 6700 rs per square feet to a marathi investor but 6300 rs per square feet to another gujarati in mumbai, to encourage his tribe. a gsb (an essentially konkani community), a nayar samaj from the south, or a jain samaj have their own public places(lodging dormetories, wedding halls ) to rent at surprisingly low prices for their own people… trusts that help community families, students education, n all this not in their geographical states, but in mumbai!
so when a raj thackeray (or even the entire shiv sena ) ideology stands up as a powerful voice of a marathi in his own land, i really don’t think it is ‘illogical’ or ‘absurd’ – as discussed by these non-marathis now, forgetting what they themselves are doing.. somewhere everyone does it for their own communities, states, languages unsaid n unwritten but understood by all. so please don’t come up with hypocritic discussions like – in a democratic country how can we say which state belongs to whom ??? oh excuse me… there are reservations all around you, there is protection for minorities, two people want to come to mumbai and speak in their own language with each other, sideline others, still find their kinda cuisine, temples in an ever accommodative city… and now that someone is standing as a voice to protect the marathis who will slowly become a minority at this rate, just cos its not favourable to you, you are now talking about sovereignty n democracy ??
marathi maanus is much more matured n understanding however. though the educated class will feel that mr thackeray is not handling things the right way, somewhere each one will silently identify their voice in his voice…
i am just saying that with due respect n no offence intented to a lot of lovely non maharashtrian people i know, we need to understand that just like every society has all kinds of elements, blue collared, representative, violent, enterprising etc., maharashtrian society has its own share too… and just like we live with them, we have to live with the newfound ‘marathi baana’ too… until we really do away will ‘ALL’ barriers n injustice…
. But let me tell you BOMBAY for me is not part of Maharashtra. It has been defined by people from all walks of life, from all sorts of people ,from all sorts of places.The Gujjus, the Marvaris, the Madrasis(typecasted again for all southies), the Punjus, the bhaiyas and the Bengalis make it the pot-pourri that it is.No one can dictate terms to what one should do and do not. Life in Mumbai is not easy for anyone and I dare say tougher for the so-called outsider. Here everyone fights for survival and so if someone feels he has lost out then probably he hasn’t been working harder.Simple. So when someone says Marathi manuus is becoming a minority in the workplace, isn’t it their fault that they haven’t been working hard enough.
hi,
your view point is very much valid and well described so congrats on that .. I am totally with you on this, however, the only question I have here is that, what about those ppl who have left their so called “native” places since last cpl of generations and have been in mumbai for more than 5 decades … dont they have the equal right? .. well thts just my thought … and let me know of such GSB colonies where you can get a house at a lower rent if any
Cheers
Parag