So, we're having a bit of political unrest here in Bombay this week. I don't pretend to understand all of it, but I believe it boils down to this: Raj Thackeray, a local politician who is the nephew of another, very famous politician, Bal Thackeray (aka the Hindu nationalist, Marathi ethnocentric would-be dictator who changed the official name of this city to Mumbai, even though good luck finding anyone here who calls it that), has today been arrested on charges of violating the Indian penal code to the tune of dividing people along ethnic lines and inciting riots. This move has divided people along ethnic lines and incited riots.
It seems Raj T. feels that the North Indians are polluting! our! local! culture! here in the state of Maharashtra, and thus they shouldn't be welcome in Mumbai. Never you mind that they comprise something like 30% of the population here, many of them in the form of taxi drivers. They need to be driven out by force, and if you can burn their businesses and throw rocks at them while you're at it, more's the better, because in Maharashtra that is how we roll.
The Indian Mr. T has also been on the case of Bollywood mega-actor Amitabh Bachchan, who is from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh but has made his fortune here in Bombay. Raj T. thinks Amitabh should be, you know, like, more grateful and stuff and never support any causes in his home state but rather funnel all his cash into this, the most prosperous city in India.
While doing some research on the guy just now I discovered he is exactly two months younger than I am, to the day. This creeps me out a bit. I just have never really thought of myself as possibly being within the same cohort as, howyousay, totally batshit crazy right wing populist leaders.
By the way did I mention this guy is also a big fan of Hitler? People, I think we can all agree it just doesn't get any more awesome than that.
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