Where Were You Raj?

The uniqueness of our country is its multiplicity. People of all hues, speaking different languages, of all sects and possible religions, having different cultures and following exotic rituals and traditions – that is India – a lovely bouquet of flowers of every variety that one can imagine!

People have been migrating from one place to other for all the reasons – food, water, wealth, weather, convenience, compulsions and what not! There might be a few groups of aboriginal inhabitants even today in some parts of the country, but majority of them must have moved at least a few hundred kilometres from their original birth-place for one reason or the other. It is difficult to say who the original inhabitant is and who the migrated one. DNA finger-printing might be of help in fixing it!

The Thackerays have been belittling the people hailing from Bihar and UP, had been opposing the brethrens from the south, had been trying to push out the Gujaratis and Marwaris. And strangely enough, they have followers too! People from all over India have contributed immensely to the prosperity of Mumbai with their hard work and have given it an identity. How they are outsiders?

Shiv Sainiks and MNS must give a thought – and must draw inspiration from the life and philosophy of the legendary Shivaj i-  who tried to unite India under one flag. What these people are aspiring for, in Shivaji’s own home!

Comments of Digvijay Singh on the origins of Thackeray family has been a shocking revelation to one and all. The Thackerays say that it is not them who migrated but it is the Thakre clan who migrated from Magadh(Bihar) to Bhopal to Pune! It doesn’t matter. What is important is that people do migrate and settle at one place or the other which suits them. Autobiography of Grandpa of Raj Thackeray only proves it.

Interestingly, it is believed that my own forefathers had participated in the third battle of Panipat in 1761 as Maratha soldier and later found their way to a place – which is now my ancestral village – Anandpur – founded by them in Patna District of Bihar! Phew! Strange are the ways of migration. It means that originally I am a Marathi and now a Bihari. Whereas, the Thackerays were originally a Bihari and now they are Marathis! Hah!

Now, the question is who should evict whom? No doubt, we would find ourselves entangled with one and all, if we go the Thackerays way.

Let good sense prevail on the Thackerays and their followers. When Mumbai was under the siege of the terrorists – our commandos representing the length and breadth of India risked their lives to nail the terrorists and bring peace to Mumbai. I didn’t hear of this family stepping out of their homes to shoo away the terrorists. And, Where were you Raj?