Bal Thackeray turns 86 today

Indian politician, founder and chief of the right-wing Hindu fundamentalist group Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray, also known as Hinduhriday Samraat Balasaheb Thackeray, turned 86 on Monday.

While Shiv Sena members would have preferred to meet Balasaheb, they will not be able to do the same following his poor health.

However, a video message by the leader will be featured at an official Sena ceremony to be held at the Shanmukhananda hall at Sion in Mumbai.

Sena leader Shweta Parulkar was quoted by a national daily as saying that the message will be followed by short speeches by other leaders and after that, there will be a Marathi play, which is the usual format.

Thackeray was born in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.

He began his professional career as a cartoonist with the English daily 'Free Press Journal' in Bombay (now Mumbai) but left it in 1960 to form his own political weekly 'Marmik' through which he campaigned against the growing influence of Gujaratis, Marwaris, and migrants from South India in Bombay

His political philosophy was largely shaped by his father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, a leading figure in the United Maharashtra movement, which advocated the creation of a separate linguistic state of Maharashtra.

In 1966, Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena party to advocate more strongly the place of Maharashtrians in Bombay´s political and professional landscape.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Thackeray built the party by forming temporary alliances with nearly all of Maharashtra´s political parties.

A controversial figure, Thackeray has attracted significant attention by making statements expressing admiration for Hitler, inciting violence against Muslims, expressing support for the LTTE, and taking strong stances on the aspects of popular culture, including fervent opposition to the celebration of Valentine´s Day.