Feb. 09. 2008. Rajesh Chopra.  LiveIndia.Com
“There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating than seeing someone else die.”   - Stanley Kubrick 

Come February’ 2008, you open your eyes to the political misadventures of Raj Thackeray, who was beaked out running high and dry till two months back. But now at least he's hogging the headlines, even if for the wrong reasons. His misadventures may have just begun, but may play a big spoil sport if gone unchecked. The rabble rousing utterances may spiral out and spread widely into a chain reaction of mammoth proportions if not dealt with. 

Next year's elections are on cards and there is something which has to be done and done decisively. That's what Raj Thackeray has concluded. When, Raj Thackeray launched MNS he had an agenda of inclusive politics which included Dalits, Muslims, Hindus and Maharashtarians alike. But last year’s elections across Maharashtra turned his political aspirations into a bitter experience. The much-hyped MNS was wiped out everywhere and won barely six seats.

Ever since Shiv Sena has tried to evolve out of the timid politics into a much more global and liberal identity, Raj has been on toes to do some thing desperate. To take such a big decision such as to segregate people on regional lines, he must be something himself. He's unqualified behavior has left a lot to be desired. He might have been provoked by attempts by the Shiv Sena to reach out to north Indian voters in and around Mumbai, and the rise of Bal Thackeray’s son and successor at the Shiv Sena of “Mee Mumbaikar” fame. 

It makes little sense, that the violence that marred Mumbai is a desperate act of divisive politics and power. The low strata of society of its four million north Indian have born the brunt till now. But the poison gas has been unleashed and other casualties may soon follow, the biggest being the pride of Mumbai as the cosmopolitan global powerhouse. For now, it's a boom time for Raj Thackeray, whose own political chances had become very bleak, when he was wiped out of last municipal elections. Ever since he has parted with the Shiv Sena’s founder leader Bal Thackeray, Raj has had no clues on where to go and what to do.  All he can do now is to fan the sectarian sentiment and instigate the policy of divide and rule, especially after seeing the Narender Modi’s rise out of such divisive politics. But politically Raj’s calculations have gone over board as he imagines that a clash between the north Indians and the Maharashtrians will polarize votes in his favor and affect the Shiv Sena badly.

But these provocation's are plunging the whole nation into an abyss of darkness with such a low level of rotten politics which was never seen before. Imagine a robust social structure which was built and nurtured so carefully over the last sixty odd years, faces the wrath of some misguided mavericks. Imagine a nation which tomorrow faces the threat of being divided not only on regional lines but also on municipal lines. Imagine a situation where South Mumbaikars are up against North Mumbaikars or Delhi against Gurgaon. Unthinkable! Well not so much, if people like Raj Thackeray are left out open to have their way.

The divide that is being instilled in the hearts of the masses can reverse this progress and bring the eventual downfall of a nation unless it is dealt with an equally conscious and committed process of reasoned thought and reasoning. The nation as such is already divided, divided by class, divided by creeds, divided by religion, divided by states. And leaders are not fighting for their nation but fighting for their own cult. They are not fighting for national interests but fighting for their own vested ones.  It’s up to the people of Maharashtra, not to let one man tarnish the pride and image of the liberal Maharashtrian. Leaders like Raj Thackeray are just scavengers, rag pickers looking for whatever they can make the most out of.  This is not a fight for sanskriti(cultural identity), its rather a game of “power ki sanskriti’(culture of power) that is laying it's roots surreptitiously.
So cut the trap! Cut the Crap!
Rajesh Chopra.  LiveIndia.Com