For the moth genus, see Satara (moth).

Satara सातारा
—  city  —
Clockwise from top: Chaarbhinti, Natraj Mandir, The name of the city 'Satara' in three different scripts: Modi, Devnagri and Latin; Kshetra Mahuli, Ajinkyatara Fort, and the panorama of Satara city.
Satara
Coordinates: 17°41′29″N 74°00′03″E / 17.69139°N 74.00092°E / 17.69139; 74.00092Coordinates: 17°41′29″N 74°00′03″E / 17.69139°N 74.00092°E / 17.69139; 74.00092
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Satara
Government
• Mayor	Mrs. Mukta Leve
Area
• Total	10,484 km2 (4,048 sq mi)
Elevation	742 m (2,434 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	149,170
• Density	266.77/km2 (690.9/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	415 xxx
Telephone code	02162
Vehicle registration	MH-11
Website	www.satara.nic.in

Satara  pronunciation (help·info), (Modi)) is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the historical cities of Maharashtra. This city is the capital of Satara Tehsil, as well as Satara District.

Toponymy[link]

The name of the city is derived from the seven hills surrounding the city. Saat (सात) meaning seven in Marathi and Tara (तारा) meaning hill, thus forming the word 'Satara'. Historians agree that the name of the city has its origins in the seven hills overlooking the city. The seven hills are Ajinkyatara, Sajjangad, Yawateshwar, Jarandeshwar, Nakdicha Dongar, Kitlicha Dongar, and Pedhyacha Bhairoba.

History[link]

Ancient[link]

The oldest Dynasty ruling Satara is said to be the Rashtrakutas. The oldest Rashtrakutas are believed to be from ancient Kuntala in the valley of river Krishna. King Manank ruled from 350 - 375 CE. and had built his capital in Maanpur (now Maan in Satara district). The Vakatakas of Vidarbha, another Rashtrakuta rulers were in conflict with Manank. Subsequently, the Rashtrakutas became feudatories to the Chalukyas and came into prominence under Dantidurga around 753 CE.

The empire of Chandragupta II, known as Mahendraditya Kumargupta I, extended as far as Satara district in Deccan when he ruled between 451 and 455 AD. The Mauryan empire in the Deccan was followed by the rule of Satavahans for about two centuries between 550 and 750 AD.

Medieval[link]

The first Muslim invasion of the Deccan took place in 1296. In 1636 the Nizam Shahi dynasty came to an end. In 1663 Shivaji conquered Parali & Satara fort. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangzeb's son Muhammad Azam Shah conquered Satara fort (Ajinkyatara) after a 6month siege, later won by Parshuram Pratinidhi in 1706. In 1708 Chattrapati Shahu,the son of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, was crowned on the Satara fort. The direct descendents of Raja Shivaji continue to live in Satara. The current king of Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale is the 13th descendent of Shivaji Maharaj.

British[link]

After their victory in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the British Empire annexed most of the Maratha territory to Bombay Presidency, but restored the titular Raja Pratap Singh, and assigned to him the principality of Satara, an area much larger than the present district. As a result of political intrigues, he was deposed in 1839, and his brother Shahji Raja was placed on the throne. This prince died without any male heirs,and as a result Satara was eventually annexed by the British government, and added to Bombay Presidency.

During the independence struggle,a type of Parallel Government known as Prati Sarkar came into existence.The people of Satara,under the leadership of Krantisinha Nana Patil,ousted the British officials and took power into their hands. During Quit India Movementof 1942, this parallel government replaced British government for 4.5 years from August 1943 to May 1946. Similar ousters of British power in other areas,led to the formation of similar Parallel Governments in Midnapore in West Bengal and Purnia in Uttar Pradesh. Such was the efficiency and power of these Parallel Governments that for nearly 4.5 years, the British did not even try to capture these areas, fearing defeat;which shows the popular nature of these governments.

Features of Satara city[link]

• Satara is well known for its sweet: 'Kandi Pedhe'.
• This city was one of the capitals of the Maratha Empire.
• Also, this city was one of the centers of Indian Independence Movement.
• It is situated near confluence of two rivers: Krishna and Venna.
• If we see the panorama of city from Yawateshwar at night, we can see the number '17', due to the lighting on the roads.
• Satara City has a unique statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj standing near a canon at Powai Naka. Most of the statues elsewhere depict Ch. Shivaji Maharaj riding on a horse.

Geography[link]

View of Satara City at sunset from Chaarbhinti (Clicked at 11 December 2010; 1815 hrs.(IST)

Satara is located at 17°41′N 73°59′E / 17.68°N 73.98°E / 17.68; 73.98.^[1] It has an average elevation of 742 metres (2434 feet).

Satara is located in the western part of Maharashtra. Satara district is bounded by Pune district to the north, Solapur district to the east, Sangli district to the south and Ratnagiri district to the west. Raigad district lies to its north-west. Satara District has an area of 10,480 km², and a population of 2,796,906 (2001).

The Sahyadri range, separates the district from Ratnagiri on the western side The black rock Mahadeo range starts about 10 m north of Mahabaleshwar and stretches east and south-east across the whole of the district

The main rivers of Satara district are Koyna and Krishna. The Krishna is one of the three largest sacred rivers of southern India. Approximately 172 km of the river course falls inside the district. The Krishna river begins on the eastern brow of the Mahabaleshwar plateau and the source is about 4500 ft. above sea level. Kudali, Urmodi, Venna and Tarali are small feeder rivers (tributaries) of Krishna. Koyna is the largest tributary of the Krishna in the district. These two rivers met each other in Karad. There is formed a famous place called "Pritisangam" . Neera and Manganga rivers are the two representative of the Bhima drainage in the north and north-eastern parts of the district respectively. Saigaon is one of the Village in Jawali Taluka which is located in Satara district

Climate[link]

Satara City is surrounded by seven hills. Since it is in hilly area, its climate is tropical wet and dry. The temperature of Satara City is varies in the range 39°C-45°C in Summer and 5°C-20°C in winter. Due to Monsoon, we can experience the rainy season between the period June to early October. In this area, near about 1000 mm rainfall occurs during monsoon. The best time period to visit Satara City is between September to March.

Tourism[link]

The famous tourist points near Satara City are:

Kas plateau,Satara

Lord BraViMaShwar,Narayan Maharaj Math,Vinayak Nagar,Bamnoli,Satara

• Vajrai Waterfall (वजराई धबधबा)
• Ajinkyatara Fort (अजिंक्यतारा किल्ला)
• Sajjangad Fort (सज्जनगड किल्ला)
• Chaarbhinti (चारभिंती)
• Natraj Mandir (नटराज मंदिर)
• Bhairoba Hill (भैरोबाची टेकडी)
• Kuraneshwar (कुरणेश्वर)
• Jaradndeshwar (जरंडेश्वर)
• Yawateshwar (यवतेश्वर)
• Kas Lake and Kas Plateau (कास तलाव आणि कास पठार)
• Bamnoli (बामणोली)
• Thosegar Waterfalls (ठोसेघर धबधबा)
• Chalkewadi (चाळकेवाडी)
• Rajwada (राजवाडा)
• Sangam Mahuli (संगममाहुली)
• Kshetra Mahuli (क्षेत्रमाहुली)
• Narayan Maharaj Math,Shembdi Vaghali,Bamnoli (नारायण महाराज मठ,शेंबडी वाघळी,बामणोली,सातारा)

Recently found religious tourist destination, this place has a matha about 45 km away from Satara and is surrounded by Shivsagar lake. Also famous for the lord Shiva(Bravimashwar)temple which is underground and Lord Ganesha(Gajamukhi Siddhivinayak) temple.

A view of Narayan Maharaj Math from Shembdi Vaghali-Bamnoli Road

A Sunset view from Naryan Maharaj Math,Bamnoli

Demographics[link]

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Satara had a population of 108,043. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Satara has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 74%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. In Satara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Maharashtra state's sex ratio is 883 girls per 1000 boys, and Satara fares worse still at 881, in spite of the high level of lietracy^[3].

Education[link]

Schools in Satara City[link]

• Iqra English Medium School.
• New English School.
• Anant English School.
• Shri Bhavani Vidya Mandir.
• Sou.Sushila Devi Salunkhe Girls Highschool.
• Annasaheb Kalyani Vidyalaya.
• Abasaheb Chirmule Vidya Mandir.
• Bhimabai Ambedkar Kanya Vidyamandir.
• Dr. J. W. Airan Academy ( formerly known as Narmada Education Academy).
• Kanyashala.
• Maharaja Sayajirao Vidyalaya.
• KSD Shanbhag Vidhyalaya.
• Universal Knowledge School
• Nirmala Convent High School.
• Mona School.
• Navin Marathi Shala.
• Deccan Education Society's English Medium School.
• Sainik School, Satara.
• Satara English Medium School.
• Saint Paul's School.
• Sahas International School.
• Podar International School.
• Gurukul English Medium school.
• Parents' Association English School.
• Jagruti vidyalaya, Jaoli.

Colleges in Satara City[link]

• Sou. Devibai Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada Rural Education Society's:-

  1)Late Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada Military School (Residential Co-education), Satara for boys and girls.
  2)Late Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada training college of Nursing Satara (ANM, RGNM).
  3)Late Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada institute of Engineering & Technology(Degree), Raigaon, Satara.
  4)Late Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada institute of Engineering & Technology (Polytechnic), Raigaon, Satara.
  5)Late Narayandas Bhawandas Chhabada institute of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Raigaon, Satara.
  6)Late Bhawandas T. Chhabada ANM Training School of Nursing, SATARA.

• DIPLOMA IN PHARMACY, LATE SUMAN DHEKANE DEPT.OF PHARMACY, SATARA POLYTECHNIC SATARA, At Rajwada,near Anant English School, Satara .

Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara: One of the top science colleges in Maharashtra state.

Gourishankar Polytechnic, Limb, Satara.

• Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College of Engineering and Polytechnic, Satara
• Gourishankar Polytechnic, Limb
• Lal Bahaddur Shastri College, Satara
• Azad College Of Education, Satara
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Arts College, Satara
• Dhananjay Gadgil Vanijya Mahavidyalay, Satara
• Ismailsaheb Mulla Law College, Satara
• Satara College of Engineering and Management, Limb
• Chhabda College of Engineering, Raigaon
• Yashawantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara
• Satara Polytechnic, Satara
• Satara College Of Pharmacy, Degoan
• Samarth Educational Trusts Sawkar College of Pharmacy (D. Pharmacy)
• Samarth Educational Trusts Arvind Gavali College of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy)
• Aryangla Vaidyak Mahavidyalaya (B.A.M.S.)
• Sawkar Medical College (B.H.M.S.)
• Yashawantrao Institute of Social Sciences,Jakatwadi.(Y.C.I.S.S.)

It is a very rich taluka as it receives all the facilities like water, industries, transport, tourism, sugar plantations, etc unlike its neighbouring drought prone khatav, maan talukas

Further reading[link]

• Paul H. von Tucher: Nationalism: Case and crisis in Missions - German Missions in British India 1939 - 1946. Diss. Erlangen 1980. Author's edition Erlangen/Germany 1980. [1], [2], [3] and [4] in Satara 1940-1946.
• Wilhelm Filchner: Life of a Researcher (chapter XXIII). Wilhelm Filchner was interned from September 1941 until November 1946 in the Parole Camp in Satara. Later on he lived in Poona in the Maharashtra state of India.
• Selections from the Historical Records of the Hereditary Minister of Baroda. Consisting of letters from Bombay, Baroda, Poona and Satara Governments. Collected by B.A. Gupte. Calcutta 1922.
• Malik, S.C. Stone Age Industries of the Bombay & Satara Districts, M. Sayajirao University Baroda 1959.
• Irawati Karve, Jayant Sadashiv Randadive, The Social Dynamics of a Growing Town and Its Surrounding Area. Deccan College, 1965, Poona. ISBN B0000CQW3J
• Valunjkar, T. N. Social Organization, Migration & Change in a Village Community, Deccan College Poona 1966.

References[link]

External links[link]

• We Understand Your Needs | Satara District Local Search Engine
• Satara Photo Gallery and Video Gallery
• Welcome to Satara
• Satarainfo

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

v t e Satara district topics History Sajjangad Geography Koyna River Krishna River Venna lake Cities and towns Karad Khatav Khed Koregaon Mahabaleshwar Mhaswad Panchgani Patan Phaltan Rahimatpur Satara Wai Lok Sabha constituencies Madha Satara Vidhan Sabha constituencies Satara

v t e  State of Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai Topics History Geography Economy Tourism Marathi language Culture Marathi people Marathi literature Marathi cinema Maharashtrian cuisine Regions Desh Khandesh Konkan Mumbai Metropolitan Region Marathwada Vidarbha Districts Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Aurangabad Beed Bhandara Buldhana Chandrapur Dhule Gadchiroli Gondia Hingoli Jalgaon Jalna Kolhapur Latur Mumbai (City) Mumbai (Suburban) Nagpur Nanded Nandurbar Nashik Osmanabad Parbhani Pune Raigad Ratnagiri Sangli Satara Sindhudurg Solapur Thane Wardha Washim Yavatmal Million-plus cities in Maharashtra Mumbai Pune Nagpur Thane Pimpri-Chinchwad Nashik Kalyan-Dombivali Navi Mumbai Aurangabad Other cities with municipal corporations Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Bhiwandi Chandrapur Dhule Jalgaon Kolhapur Latur Malegaon Mira-Bhayandar Nanded Parbhani Sangli Solapur Ulhasnagar Vasai-Virar Portal: Maharashtra

Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil (September 22, 1887 - May 9, 1959) was a social activist and educationist in Maharashtra, India. Strong advocate of education of the masses, he was the founder of Rayat Education Society, one of the most important educational institution in Maharashtra. Bhaurao played an important role in educating people from backward castes and also the poor masses by coining the philosophy earn and learn. He was also a prominent member of Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth seeker's society) founded by Mahatma Jotirao Phule. The people of Maharashtra honoured him with the epithet of Karmaveer (king of actions) and the Government of India awarded him with Padma Bhushan in 1959.

Life[link]

Bhaurao was born in a Jain farmer family at Kumbhoj in Kolhapur district. Bhaurao's father was clerk in revenue department for East India company. Bhaurao is the first jain who had passed 8th class of secondary school. Bhaurao during his childhood days was directly influenced Chatrapati Shahu Majaraj,ho'ble maharaj of kolhapur provide facility to kamaveer bhorao patil to stay in palace of kolhapur with maharaj to do study, the King of Kolhapur who was promoter of social equality and education people belonging to backward castes. Eventually his father sent him at kolhapur for further education. Here he got in contact with Satya Shodhak Movement and found another source of inspiration, Mahatma Phule and Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde. Bhaurao garnered political interest and decided to play his role in the fight for Indian freedom struggle by working in other beneficial aspects like public education. While he worked for Ogles, Kirloskars and Coopers he participated in activities of Satya Shodhak Samaj. He had realized by then that only remedy for the social evils of those time was education of masses. In the year 1919, he started a hostel where kids from backward castes and poor families could stay and get education, at the same time do work to take care of the expenses. This was the foundation of what later became Rayat Shikshan Sansthan.

As Bhaurao started working on his education for the masses, Gandhiji had also launched the freedom for Indian independence. During a public meeting in 1921, Bhaurao happened to come across Gandhiji at Mumbai. He was highly impressed by Gandhi's appearance in a loin cloth and his philosophy of Khadi. Following this encounter Bhaurao decided to adopt Khadi attire and follow Gandhian principles in everyday living. Eventually he vowed and saw it to completion, establishment of 101 schools in Gandhi's name.

Rayat Education Society[link]

While working as an employee in the kirloskar factory at Kolhapur, Bhaurao got involved in working for Satyashodhak Samaj. In a council of Satyashodhak Samaj, held at Kale near Karad, a resolution was passed that in order to run SatyaShodhak Movement successfully, it is necessary that they must educate the Bahujan Samaj. Accordingly, Bhaurao Patil established Rayat Shikshan Sanstha at a small village named Kale, from Satara district, of western part of Maharashtra, on October 4, 1919 on the auspicious day of Ashok Vijaya Dashami. This society was specially meant for the children of masses, so it was named Rayat (Marathi word for masses). During his life-time, the Sanstha had 38 cosmopolitan boardings, 578 voluntary schools, 6 training colleges, 108 secondary schools and 3 Colleges

Awards[link]

People of Maharashtra gave him the title of Karmveer(Marathi for "King of actions").
Government of India gave him Padma Bhushan in 1959.
The university of Pune gave him D.Litt in the same year.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Keer, Dhananjay (1997). Mahatma Jotirao Phooley: father of the Indian social revolution. Popular Prakashan. p. 285. ISBN 978-81-7154-066-2. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PFY9fz68KEsC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 2010-04-21. 
• Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, India Post stamp
• Bhaurao Patil's Photo
• The growth and development of the Sanstha

v t e Jainism topics 24 Tirthankars of Jainism  · Rishabha or Adinath · Ajitnath · Sambhavanath · Abhinandannath · Sumatinath · Padmaprabha · Suparshvanath · Chandraprabha · Pushpadanta · Sheetalnath · Shreyansanath · Vasupujya · Vimalnath · Anantnath · Dharmanath · Shantinath · Kunthunath · Aranath · Mallinath · Munisuvrata · Naminatha · Neminath · Parshva · Mahavira Philosophy  · Anekāntavāda · Aparigraha · Syādvāda · Nayavāda · Jain Cosmology · Ahimsa · Karma · Dharma · Nirvana · Kevala Jñāna · Mokṣa · Dravya · Navatattva By country  · India · Canada · Europe · United States · Japan · Singapore · Hong Kong · Pakistan · Belgium Jainism Portal

Raj Shrikant Thackeray (Marathi: राज श्रीकांत ठाकरे) (born 14 June 1968) is the founder and president of the right-wing^{[citation needed]} Marathi ethnocentric regional political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ("Maharashtra Reformation Army") in the state of Maharashtra, India. His official name is Swararaj which means the king of musical notes.^[1] He is the nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, and a cousin of the current Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray.^[2]

Early life[link]

Raj was born on 14 June 1968 in a Marathi Kayastha (CKP) family to Shrikant Thackeray (younger brother of Bal Thackeray) and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray's wife Meena Thackeray). Raj’s father Shrikant Thackeray was a musician, cartoonist and was also well versed in Urdu. He studied in Balmohan Vidyamandir, Mumbai and graduated from the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, Mumbai. As a child he is said to have learnt the tabla, the guitar and the violin. He also loved drawing which later turned into a passion for drawing cartoons.

Political career[link]

Raj started his political career with his Uncle Bal Thackeray. Bal Thackeray has been a huge influence on Raj’s life. Raj has been said to have modeled himself after him. In 1997, he started the Shiv Udyog Sena a youth wing for the Shiv Sena. With this he tried to strengthen his youth leader image. "He raised funds for the employment agency with, among other sources, concerts by Michael Jackson and Lata Mangeshkar — and thus, simultaneously, propagated the new brand of the Sena's popular culture and its implications for a nascent generational change within the organization". But his association with the Sena ended in 2006. In January 2006 he resigned from the Sena alleging that it was being "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory". There has been quite a lot of speculation over the real reason why he left the party. The popular rumor being that he was being "sidelined" by Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav. In the same year Raj announced his intention to start his own political party. Although separated from his mentor, Raj has always maintained that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".

Political Views[link]

Marathi Identity[link]

Raj Thackeray and his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, state that Maharashtra State, Marathi language and Marathi Manoos are subverted by the influence of non-Marathi politicians within and outside the State, and that these politicians should be opposed in order to attain prosperity for Maharashtra and Marathi people.^[3]

Opposition to Immigrants[link]

Since the creation of his party, Raj Thackeray has opposed immigration into Maharashtra from North India. According to Raj Thackeray, he is against immigrants specifically from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and not from North India or elsewhere, in general. According to him, bad governance, corruption, high crime rates and criminal, politicians in these two states for decades, has degraded the socio-economic conditions there, causing exodus of people from these states to other states, like Maharashtra. This causes unemployment and increased crime rates in Maharashtra and other states which receive these immigrants. Also, due to rising number of immigrants, the politician from these two states have gained power in Maharashtra. He, however has made it clear that he is not against Hindi.^[4]

Violence in Agitations[link]

Raj Thackery and his party MNS have been criticized^{[citation needed]} for use of violence during their agitations, especially directed towards immigrants from UP and Bihar. He is facing several charges for instigating violence in various courts.^{[citation needed]} On use of violence, Thackeray says that violence is a part of all agitations in Indian politics, and there are several cases of much more violence carried out by other parties and organisations. According to him, the incidents of violence involving members of his party have been unduly highlighted by North Indian politicians and journalists.^[4]

Supporter of Narendra Modi's Governance[link]

Thackeray is an admirer of Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi for his governance, and the development of Gujarat during his tenure. In August 2011, Raj Thackeray visited Gujarat on a 9-day trip as 'state guest' to study the development in Gujarat. He also advised politicians in Maharashtra, irrespective of party, to take lessons from Modi and Gujarat.^[5] He has also expressed support for Modi for the post Prime Minister of India for the 2014 Lok Sabha (general) election.^[5]

Agitations[link]

Marathi signboards for shops[link]

In July 2008, Raj issued a public warning that Mumbai shops needed to have Marathi signboards in addition to the existing English signboards. He warned that after one month, MNS workers would start blackening non-Marathi signboards.^{[citation needed]} While there had been a law to this effect passed earlier by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, it had not been enforced.^{[citation needed]}

Raj had also insisted that the Marathi signboards had to be at least as big as the English signboards. A number of big shopowners, notably Viren Shah (Roopam chain) went to court against this move. The high-court provided them relief, passing a judgement that the Marathi signboards did not have to be as big as English signboards.^[6]

In September 2008, MNS workers resorted to blackening signboards, to enforce the demand, after which most shop owners complied. Six MNS workers were arrested but later released on bail. The Congress government was dilatory in filing chargesheets against them, following which the Maharashtra high-court passed strictures against the government. When the government prosecutor submitted in December that the chargesheets had not been filed as investigation was ongoing, the judge remarked sarcastically whether this was a murder case to warrant such long investigations, three months after the arrest of the MNS workers, but Raj was attempting to enforce a rule previously on the books.^[7]

Agitation against Jet Airways layoffs[link]

In October 2008, on the eve of the major Indian festival Diwali, Jet Airways laid off 800 temporary workers and announced layoffs of an additional 1100 workers. The laid-off workers included Marathi as well as North-Indians. These workers met Raj Thackeray and asked him to intervene. Following this, Raj Thackeray declared that most of these workers had paid security deposits to the company, and he would meet Jet management to plead their case. Unless Jet Airways cancelled the layoffs, his party would not allow any Jet Airways plane to take off from any airport in Maharashtra.^[8]

Within 12 hours of Raj Thackeray's declaration, Jet chairman Naresh Goyal reversed the layoffs and reinstated the sacked employees. He claimed that he did it on his own and that there was no political pressure on him. Leftist Unions, Shivsena & Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel later tried to take credit for the decision. On announcement of the layoffs, Praful Patel had claimed that he had no jurisdiction over the layoffs issue.^[9] Sacked Jet employees on the other hand stated that they were warned by Jet management on reinstatement, not to meet Raj Thackeray to thank him.^[10]

Demand for Telecom customer service in Marathi[link]

Telecom companies in Maharashtra had been providing customer service in English & Hindi only. Raj demanded that all telecom companies operating in Maharashtra start providing the service in Marathi also and set a deadline of 27 February 2010, after which his party MNS would launch an agitation. Following this demand, all telecom companies complied, introducing Marathi as an additional option in their customer service.^[11]

Maharashtra-Karnataka Border Issue[link]

In Dec 2011, Raj Thackeray meeting a group from MES (Maharshtra Ekikaran Samiti) advised them that they should revisit their stand of merging Belgaum with Maharashtra in the interest of marathi speaking people of belgaum. In a major departure from the stance previously taken by traditional right wing groups of Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray argued that a practical approach rather than an emotional one was the need of the hour. However, he said that if the supreme court itself gives a decision in favor of Belgaum's merger he would welcome it, although the local situation in Belgaum should not be vitiated for the sake of it. He asked the MES leaders to first identify the real issue as to whether marathis in belgaum are being targeted for espousing the cause of marathi language or because they were supporting the merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra. Lamenting that strikes and bandhs only add to the misery of the Marathi-speaking community in Belgaum, Thackeray said: "If the Karnataka government is ready to respect the Marathi people, their culture and language, then there is nothing wrong in Belgaum being there."^[12] His comments were strongly criticized by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray as a cruel joke on the marathi manoos.^[13]

Controversies[link]

2008 violence against UP & Biharis[link]

At a rally in Shivaji Park, Raj warned that if the dadagiri (intimidating dominance) of these people in Mumbai and Maharashtra continued, he would be compelled to make them leave the metropolis.^[14] Raj was arrested along with a Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Azmi, for their involvement in the fracas. He was released on paying a penalty of 15,000 (US$299.25).

Acquittal in Kini murder case[link]

In July 1996, Ramesh Kini was found dead in a cinema in Pune. Kini was a tenant in a ramshackle tenement in central Mumbai, whose landlord, Laxmikant Shah, was trying to evict him. Shah also happened to be a close childhood friend of Raj Thackeray. A CBI enquiry was later issued for the case, but the CBI dismissed the case as one of suicide.^[15]

Kohinoor mill controversy[link]

Shiv Sena opposed sale of mill land, but Raj Thackeray bid for and won mill land in prime Mumbai real estate.^[16] On 21 July 2005, Raj and Unmesh Joshi, son of Shiv Sena Leader Manohar Joshi purchased a five acre plot of land, Kohinoor Mill No. 3, located across the road from the Shiv Sena party headquarters in Dadar, Mumbai for 421 crore (US$83.99 million). The NCP leader from Mumbai, Sachin Ahir, objected to the sale of the Kohinoor Mill land, saying that there were forty bids, yet only three were short-listed. He demanded a re-bid as there was a lack of transparency in the move.^[17]

Reaction to Jaya Bachchan's controversial statement[link]

The words of Jaya Bachchan, veteran actor and sitting Rajya Sabha MP of Samajwadi Party (with whom Raj's MNS has crossed swords a number of times), during the Music launch of the Hindi film Drona, were deemed hurtful by Raj Thackeray.

Jaya's words 'Hum UP (Uttar Pradesh) ke log hain, isliye Hindi mein baat karenge, Maharashtra ke log Maaf Kijiye' (We are from UP region, so we will speak in Hindi. People of Maharashtra, please excuse) in response to the film's Director, Goldie Behl, making his introductory speech in English and subsequently encouraging the actress Priyanka Chopra to speak in Hindi.^[18]

Raj commented that Jaya had no business alluding to all the people of Maharashtra in that statement. He threatened to ban all Bachchan films unless Jaya apologised in a public forum for hurting Maharashtrians. MNS workers began to attack theatres screening The Last Lear starring Jaya Bachchan's husband, Amitabh Bachchan. Shivsena MP Sanjay Raut also criticized Jaya's statement saying: "After making all your success & fortune in Mumbai, if you feel like saying that, We are From UP, its very unfortunate." It was only after Amitabh tendered an apology that the screening resumed.^[19]

Following Raj's threat, Mumbai police acted against Raj, issuing a gag order preventing him from speaking to the media.^[20]

Remarks on Chhath Puja and Migrants[link]

Raj reproached North Indian leaders for politicizing Chhath Puja, a festival popular in Bihar, calling it a "drama" and a "show of numerical strength". He stated that the Chhath Puja was a political gimmick by some parties to attract the north Indian vote. He questioned the motives by citing that the puja is performed on the banks of a river, not the sea as it was being performed.^[21] He demanded that they only celebrate Maharashtra day and not UP day in Maharashtra. A petition was filed in the Patna civil court on 8 February against him for his remarks.^[22] His statements drew flak from political leaders across the board, especially those from the North Indian states. The then Indian Railways minister and former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, vowed that he would come to Mumbai and perform Chhath Puja in front of Raj's house, which he failed to perform. He also ridiculed Raj saying, "He [Raj] is a child in politics".^[21] The Navnirman Sena leader accused migrants of swamping Maharashtra, India's most industrialised state, in search of jobs.^[23]

The MNS chief also accused migrants of disrespecting the local culture. On 9 February, expressing his stance on new migrants settling in Mumbai, Raj said, "New immigrants to the city should be denied entry into the city, while those already staying here should show respect to the Marathi 'manoos' and his culture".^[24]

Mumbai-Bombay Controversy: Wake Up Sid[link]

On 2 October 2009, MNS workers disrupted the screening of the film Wake Up Sid on its release in a few Pune and Mumbai theatres, after Raj objected to references in the movie to "Bombay" rather than "Mumbai". The city of Mumbai was referred to as "Bombay" in many scenes^[25] and in some songs (lyrics by Javed Akhtar). The film's producer, Karan Johar, visited Raj's residence to apologise, and agreed to all of Raj's terms, including an apology on each of the 700 frames in the film.^[26]

Personal life[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Raj is married to Sharmila, daughter of famous Marathi theater/films actor, producer-director Mohan Wagh. They have one son named Amit Thackeray and one daughter Urvashi Thackeray.

Like his father and uncle Raj is a painter and cartoonist. He had also expressed his desire to work for Walt Disney Studios. Raj Thackeray said when asked what he would have done had he not joined politics? "In my college days, I wanted to work with Walt Disney Studios. I drew cartoons even before my foray in politics. Film making is also a passion. I would have been doing either of these things."

External links[link]

• Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Official Website
• Outlook India Back Issues
• Raj Thackerey's response in The Indian Express to Sudheendra Kulkarni's criticism
• New legal strategy to tame Raj

References[link]