PART TWO The Charisma of Autocracy Bal Thackeray’s Dictatorship in Shiv Sena Julia Eckert In issue No. 129 of MANUSHI, Julia Eckert’s article “ Shivshahi in the Mohalla” described how and why Shiv Sena has managed to entrench itself so deeply in the social, economic and political life of Mumbai. In this article, she explains the complexity of the autocratic command structure that allows party supremo Bal Thackeray to reign unchallenged over his party. he autocratic control of Bal belief in the factuality of this personal Thackeray over the Shiv Sena relationship does not seem to be Tis probably the party’s most defeated by contrary experience. notorious feature. Bal Thackeray, Loyalty, Real or Feigned? Balasaheb, the movement’s founder Expressions of utter loyalty form a and undisputed leader, the Sena narrative which sainiks believe in but Pramukh (leader of the Sena) is said to which has a representational objective rule the organisation with dictatorial at the same time. It partly corresponds powers. It is his charismatic appeal that with their attitudes and feelings, and is assumed to inspire his followers, and partly is the idiom of legitimacy and it is his “remote control” which is said identity. Within the organisation there to govern Mumbai. In the self- explained. In the self-description and is no other legitimate way to speak representation of the Shiv Sena, the interpretation by some observers about the relationship of a sainik to supreme command and the supreme (Heuzé 1995) the family-ness of the Bal Thackeray. The rule of the Sena obedience based on conviction, Sena is its vital characteristic and the Pramukh is justified by the “love” and dedication and love for the leader are base for its appeal. The belief in the the admiration of his followers - mainly central. “He is the only leader in the utter accessibility of Bal Thackeray is their love. To question this love is to country who gets 100 percent upheld even when their conviction of question the legitimacy of his rule and loyalty”1 declares the Shiv Sena web- having immediate access to the is thus done only in hushed tones. He site. Supremo is not supported by holds the reigns of power not qua Unity and solidarity, love for the experience. The importance of a election but due to his “charisma” - leader and unquestioning loyalty is personal rather than an institutional that is qua the belief of sainiks in his regularly presented to the outsider at relationship with the leader is related superior qualities. first. Thackeray employs the family to his legitimacy being founded in the The regular and frequently simile when speaking about his supposed love - a personal kind of love standardised expressions of love and relationship with his sainiks (literally, - of his followers. And the sainiks’ obedience sometimes take on a rather soldiers): “I look upon the sainiks as routine character. This routine extends my children. A family can only run “ I look upon the sainiks even to the much mentioned hysterical when one man makes the decisions.”2 as my children. A family shows of love, adoration and He is said to “know every one of us. can only run when one dependence. A rather amusing account We are like his children and can have man makes the of the preparation to such a show of no secrets from him,” as an aspiring decisions.” desperation upon the announcement lady pramukh (leader) rather fearfully of one of the strategically sulking No.130 13 retreats of Bal Thackeray was emphasise that Thackeray is volunteered by an aspiring Shakha Bal Thackeray has time disinterested in power altogether, that Pramukh (leader of the branch): “When and again advocated a “he has shunned power [i.e. political Balasaheb announced his retreat we “benevolent office] all these years.”5 In their had just been called for a seminar. dictatorship”4 as the representative declarations they When we heard of his decision, we were most beneficial form of propound that he offers his told to go to his house and plead with 6 government for India. engagement as a service to the people him. But we hadn’t eaten yet and the and therefore will seek only the food had been ordered. So we decided people’s good and not his own. to eat first and then go to Matoshri decided by him. The policies framed Privately, sainiks express their (Bal Thackeray’s residence). So we had by him are carried out faithfully to the knowledge about and criticism of the the food - or else it would have gone end.”3 Bal Thackeray has time and various scandals which the front ranks, waste! Then some of us went to his again advocated a “benevolent and above all the Thackeray family, are house...” From this account the dictatorship”4 as the most beneficial involved in. The incompatibility of their agitated pleadings and hysterical form of government for India. knowledge about corruption and desperation of sainiks sways between Lokshahi, parliamentarian rule, having crimes in the front ranks and their belief a routine performance, a duty almost allegedly failed, because it did not in the incorruptible rule does not seem with a clear choreography and a felt provide the long promised to be double speak. Rather, sainiks need to beg him not to retreat from development to the Indian nation, it is separate the realms of public office and public life. Members of the party Shivshahi, the monarchic rule of the private business and make a distinction themselves interpret their motives to warrior king Shivaji, which serves as a between political and “purely join in the “hysterical” pleadings model for the Sena. Accordingly, economic” corruption. Personal according to the context of the dictatorial rule and anti-democratic enrichment is said to be a “human recounting: when the story of structures within the Shiv Sena are, in weakness” and is forgivable as long “hysteria” is told in connection with the eyes of the sainiks, part of the as politics stays “pure” and “for the the explanation of the various personal projected counter-politics of “getting people”. The purity of conviction is, in motives to be part of the Sena, then things done” and justified by the the Sena’s terms, identical with the desperation expressed in such acts failure of other forms of decision militancy, the unfaltering and is presented as “real emotion”. When, making, namely the parliamentary one. uncompromising pursuit of “what however, the story of “hysteria” is told In this view, the supposedly dictatorial needs to be done”. Radicalistic in connection with the expression of rule of Bal Thackeray firstly provides postures and militancy are therefore personal discontent, “hysteria” is them with clear decisions on which to quasi per definition opposed to presented as routine endeavour. act. These univocal decisions are, in corruption - just as much as any form Moreover, sainiks consider the their eyes, solely aimed at obtaining of debate, of compromise is regularly legitimacy resting on such emotional “the best solution”. Sainiks repeatedly presented as political corruption. bonds to be superior to that which Corruption is in this construction rests on rational procedures, like Lokshahi, intrinsically linked to democratic elections. Thus, the unity of the procedure, and democratically organisation and loyalty of its members parliamentarian rule, legitimised power. “Every politician are assumed to be stronger and based having allegedly failed, wants only power and they do on selfless conviction rather than because it did not provide everything to get it. See how they give instrumental interests. the long promised out sarees to all the poor womenfolk. Benevolent Dictatorship? development to the Indian But the worst is what you do not see: The autocratic position of Bal nation, it is Shivshahi, the see how Pawar sold his skin to the Thackeray is referred to as the feature monarchic rule of the underworld. He does what they want. I of the organisation which makes it mean, he is a strong politician. Also a warrior king Shivaji, which particularly trustworthy. leader, but he sells himself just for “Balasaheb... being the sole head of serves as a model for the power,” said a young and wealthy the entire organisation, there is no Sena. resident of Pedder Road who is an chance of vetoing any of the policies admirer of Raj Thackeray. “The Indian 14 MANUSHI politician is corrupt. All politics is declared “I will take action with due Chhagan Bhujbal also once declared: corrupt. And the masses don’t care. consent of my Supremo, Bal “We all take Balasaheb as our supreme They give their votes for a scrap of Thackeray.”8 This relates not only to commander. Whatever he says is an anything. Because they know that most large scale concerted actions, like order for us, and we don’t go against leaders are corrupt. But they know that bandhs (the downing of the shutters, a it.”10 Bhujbal made it all too clear by Bal Thackeray is not interested. They general strike) and agitations but also his subsequent defection to the believe him. Balasaheb does not want to election strategies and government’s Congress Party that this is an power. He does not want wealth. He is development projects. The mode of organisational principle, functional for happy. He has a good family ... He just operation of the Shiv Sena as a the Sena’s specific mode of operation, says what he thinks is right,” asserts a governing party is usually described rather than a personal one. sainik from the first generation of with reference to Bal Thackeray’s Autonomy of Shakhas Sena’s cadres. He had been with the “remote control”, that is his final say What matters is the appearance of movement from the time of the “son- over any government decision.