Long Live Balasaheb

Shiv Sainiks believe that their party’s fortunes will revive soon. Not because of the infusion of fresh blood in the party’s leadership, but because 83-year-old Bal Thackeray’s health seems to be improving.

A few days before Dussehra, about two months ago, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray made an important announcement. His father, the Shiv Sena chief, would address the party’s traditional Dussehra rally this year. For Sainiks starved of their leader’s presence, this was a momentous occasion. Owing to ill health, Bal Thackeray had not made any public appearances and this absence had taken its toll on the Sena’s voter base. So, when Uddhav made the announcement, he was also signalling the Sena chief’s return to active politics.

For some time now, political circles had been abuzz with talk of Bal Thackeray’s steady decline, both physically and mentally. Since Sainiks, and even senior party leaders, were not allowed access to him, the general feeling was that he was in very bad shape. Besides, his trips to the hospital had become more frequent.

But when he stood up—without aid, as he had previously needed—to address the Dussehra rally, that single fluid move silenced his critics and revitalised Shiv Sainiks far and wide. A thunderous applause rent the air, and from then on there has been no stopping Bal Thackeray.

His cheeks had filled up, his feeble voice had become loud and firm. His speech was as sharp as in the years gone by. During the handful of times he had appeared in public on previous occasions, the patriarch looked weak and listless. Serious ailments of the heart and lungs had taken their toll, and he had struggled to speak. Even the few words he had managed sounded like whimpers.

As words escaped his mouth this time round at Shivaji Park, the 83-year-old leader looked robust. His health and spirits too had improved. He stood firmly on his feet, and according to close aides, has gained at least 20 kg.

That’s some recovery, considering that he had undergone an angioplasty in 2009. In February this year the Sena chief had to be rushed to hospital again because of severe chest and lung infection. The doctors even advised Uddhav to sanitise the residence so that the ailing leader did not suffer further infections.

Doctors had also visited the Thackeray residence Matoshree and insisted that air-conditioners—often the main cause of infections—be cleaned up as well.
Now his illness is a thing of the past. Residents of Kalanagar colony are no longer surprised when they see the Sena chief walking around. He walks about five rounds in the morning and 15 in the evening, without any support. A great foodie, he now eats whatever he fancies.

With improved vision after his eye surgery, he has returned to caricaturing—his first love—and has been drawing almost daily. He also participates actively in the party’s daily functioning.

According to his doctors, the improvement in Balasaheb’s health is due to angioplasty. The improved management of his lung disease has helped his appetite, too.

The Sena chief has a passion for white wine and warm beer, and he has never kept his weakness for these two a secret. In fact, he has openly confessed that he needs the warm beer to ease his chronic constipation, while the wine drinking was a taste cultivated over the last decade.

He also smoked a pipe. Prior to that he smoked cigarettes, say sources. While he does not smoke anymore, owing to chest diseases, doctors have advised him to stay away from alcohol too. While his beer drinking has stopped, wine drinking goes on, though it is relatively rare now.

Bal Thackeray’s ill health was mainly due to blocked arteries. He had a coronary bypass surgery in the 1990s, but those routes as well as the main artery got blocked again, leading to fresh congestive heart trouble. He also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, which refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, due to which airways become narrow and restrict the lung’s flow of air, causing shortness of breath.

The chronic cardiac problem had led to weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite and general debility. Now COPD remains his only health issue, and a minimal maintenance dose of steroids is being given to treat it, says one of his doctors. The steroids have contributed to Bal Thackeray’s weight gain. With his health improvement, he has been taken off several medicines, says another doctor.

Following the angioplasty in July 2009 and his health revival, Bal Thackeray was keen on campaigning for the October 2009 Assembly polls. However, Sena sources say that Uddhav did not want to take the risk. Even the Dussehra rally that Bal Thackeray addressed last year was done through a short video.
The improvement in eyesight has been a bonus for Bal Thackeray. He had undergone cataract surgery earlier, but continued to suffer from foggy visibility for over a month. In March this year, the renowned eye surgeon Dr TP Lahane treated the problem with laser surgery.

All done, there is much excitement in the Sena now. “Only Saheb can hold the party together. We work for Saheb. If he is there, the Sena is there. It is a great feeling to see Saheb healthy,” says Dilip Mane, a card-holding member of the party.

The leader now has a fixed schedule. He walks, meets people and is back at what he loves best—drawing caricatures.

Perhaps the sight of his estranged nephew Raj walking away with the Sena’s share of Marathi manoos votes has infused new life into him. After all, he has to pass on the legacy to his grandson Aditya, who has just stepped into politics. During Thackeray’s absence from active politics, the Sena had been slipping out of Uddhav’s hands.

Balasaheb ThackerayShiv Sena