Retributions  

The elite have functioned as a willing arm of the political establishment

In the Indian Express, the ever perspicuous Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes,

The third dimension of the crisis is social. Elites set standards in any society. And the extraordinary social respectability, if not downright obsequiousness, with which the Sena leadership has been treated over the years has sent out the wrong message twice over. It has legitimised the illegitimate, and it has probably led people to overestimate the Sena’s power. Power is always odd, in that you have it if other people think you have it. The minute others stop believing it dissipates. We have let the Sena get away with this illusion by not standing up to it. No single political group or powerful social force in Maharashtra wanted to call the Sena’s bluff. It makes you wonder how many of us are liberals by conviction or how many are deciding to be so. [link]

It is an important point: Witness the way someone of the stature of Amitabh Bachchan holds the Thackerays in exalted status. But with due respect to Mr Mehta, the malaise runs deeper. The elite do not merely acquiesce but frequently are a willing participant in this racket. Again, Mr Bachchan is a good example. From Rajiv Gandhi’s good friend to Mulyam Singh’s foot solider and now Narendra Modi’s brand ambassador, Mr Bachchan has traversed the entire political spectrum, willingly sacrificing his personal beliefs—if he has any—in lieu of personal aggrandizement. The willingness to play second fiddle to the political establishment is not merely a function of fear but also derives from the benefits such relationships accord. Those once co-opted by the establishment find it extremely difficult to break free even if they subsequently find the embrace uneasy.

Specifically, in terms of Maharashtra though Thackerays have always benefited from the political-social elite’s failure to take them on. Congress which has tolerated Thackerays for decades, and indeed propped up Raj Thackeray as a counter to Shiv Sena is hardly in a position to politically fight  them—the breathless gladiatorial headlines not withstanding. Ditto for BJP which has willingly blinked at their anti-Muslim tirade for years. Add to this cauldron the relatively high tolerance in Indian society for mob violence, and it is easy to understand why Thackerays refuse to fade away despite their dwindling political fortunes.

Well, better late than never. If there is a renewed willingness to stand up to the likes of Thackerays, it can only strengthen Indian democracy. But the jury is still out on it