Undoubtedly the
biggest congregation ever in Mumbai and Maharashtra,
and maybe one of the biggest funeral gatherings the world over. For me, an Assamese,
it reminds me most emotionally and vibrantly of the unprecedented crowds that
came out in the streets of Guwahati to pay last respects to their legendary
singer-lyricist-writer-filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika. The reasons for the upsurge
seem to be almost similar. Both of these personalities inspired their respective
communities to feel pride in being themselves, to try overcoming the darkness
of identity or existence and both of them came to their support whenever needed
to sail them out of any crisis. 
More than two
million people came out in the streets of Mumbai today to give a loving
respectful farewell to their most beloved leader. Politicians need to make
special arrangements or even bribe their ‘supporters’ to come throng their
public meetings. But for this spontaneous leader it had been a spontaneous
upsurge right from last night to late evening today. The last journey scheduled
to start at 7.30am got delayed by several hours due to the huge congregation at
Matoshree in Bandra. It had been a three kilometer long procession
heading for Shivaji
Park in central Mumbai
where another huge gathering waited for a darshan of their leader and
to pay their last respects. Apart from the filled streets people crowded the house
balconies, the terraces, the skywalks and every possible vantage points for a
last view of the cult figure of Maharashtra. 
The last rites
of Bal Keshav Thackeray, fondly called Balasaheb, had been performed with full
state honors at Shivaji
Park around 6pm today.
The funeral pyre was lit by his son Uddhav Thackeray helped by his close
relatives and Shiv Sena leaders and workers. As the flames of the
funeral pyre broke through the gathering dusk emotionally charged chants and
slogans in praise of Balasaheb pierced the atmosphere. It was a never-before
spectacle in Mumbai, and maybe never again.
The other parts
of the normally bustling city remained deserted with all shops closed, no taxis
or autos on the roads, all cinema houses canceling the screenings, all petrol
pumps closed and hardly any traffic. Only the public city buses plied and in
more numbers for helping people wanting to have a last view of their beloved
leader. Many other parts in Maharashtra too
observed spontaneous shutdowns. 
Tomorrow is
going to be another shutdown of shops and all businesses, schools and movie theaters in Mumbai as one more spontaneous demonstration of respect to the
departed leader. Most importantly, the spectacular mass upsurge had been
absolutely peaceful. The crowds behaved in an orderly and disciplined manner
adhering to the rules set by the administration and police. Finally, hats off
to Mumbai Police for managing an occasion of such huge proportions so
efficiently, so dexterously and with utmost devotion to duty. All national and
regional TV new channels covered the last journey live and with painstaking
details. Journalists and reporters worked tirelessly for the last four days
particularly since yesterday evening and kept on the whole day today literally
with no food or even no water due to the total shutdown of the city.
You may love him
or hate him, but Balasaheb Thackeray had all the ingredients of a true and
dedicated leader. Whatever he did or spoke or thundered about had been straight
from the heart and with conviction without being shrouded in hypocrisy and
selfish goals or interests. His words and actions were grounded to reality, but
the interpretations that followed endlessly created most of the controversies.
Well, that is our reading, you many have yours. We salute him for his
originality and motivated leadership.
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