SUJATA ANANDAN--MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra Maximus: The State, Its People & Politics by  Sujata Anandan ; Published by  Rupa; Pages 244 ; Price  Rs 395/-

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If you proclaim “West Bengal” the image that springs up is that of Subash Chandra Bose. If you call out “Gujarat” it is Mahatma Gandhi and if you invoke “Maharashtra” the figure that emerges is Chatrapati Shivaji.

 Sujata Anandan a veteran journalist, who is working with Hindustan Times, in her earlier book  “Samrat” wrote about another name that had equalled the status of Shivaji—viz  Bal Thackeray. She  explored the life and times of Balasaheb and  as Vir Sanghvi put it—“'The book is an attempt to understand the milieu that Thackeray operated in and to capture the essence of his style amidst the shifting stands and the politics of pragmatism'.Thackeray not just changed the name of Bombay to Mumbai but quite altered the character and fabric of the city even though he was driven not by ideology, as might have seemed to most outsiders.

In the book under review  “Maharashtra Maximus: The State, Its People & Politics” she has spread her wings and extended the scope of her study with the help of  her deep understanding of Maharashtra politics and its people.

Sujata Anandan explains with great acumen the mystique  of Maharashtra politics and its ramifications.  “The Gateway of India” is in Mumbai and Maharashtra also can claim to be the  “Gateway to India” .  The beginnings of the fight for “Swaraj” began with  the movement of Self-rule – or Swaraj –  with Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.  That sterling leader  also worked hard for  social integration –which initiative gave birth to  unique and remarkable  movements for the abolition of castes and for ensuring  justice and social equality .  “Marathas gave to India the concept of Swaraj and federalism, and kept it largely Hindu.”

Sujata has cleverly explained the applicability of the concept of the “Triad” in the history of the State .Three major regions --Bombay,Vidarbha and Marthwada  were merged to make  Maharashtra as we know today. Sugarcane, Cotton and Onion  are the major crops of the  State. The Trio who cast maximum  influence on the growth of the State are  are Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantrao Naik and Sharad Pawar.  What was their philosophy,asks Sujata and answers-- The tripartite spirit of Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar philosophy that firmly laid the foundation of god governance . Finally the three communities that have a paramount influence in Maharashtra are Mahar, Maratha and Brahmin communities,

According to the author  Maharashtra Dharma goes beyond Hindu Dharma and incorporates  nationalism.

 Shivaji Maharaj was the first of the indigenous kings to realise the importance of naval power.  “One can today describe him as the father of the Indian navy. One of modern-day India’s naval training ships is named INS Angre after Kanhoji Angre, a formidable naval commander during the time of Shivaji who conquered many sea powers and seized many islands from both the Portuguese and the British on the Konkan coast. The Indian navy has also named its training ship in Lonavala as INS Shivaji, in tribute to India’s original naval power.”

Maharashtra is vastly superior to other states of India. However ,within the State undeniably there are backward or under-developed regions.  Marathwada is backward. Located on  the edge of a desert, water is a major issue  here. Not a single district including Aurangabad can be labelled  industrialised. Attempts made earlier  to develop industries in and around Aurangabad were not successful. Sujata quotes an authority ---according to Prof. Sudhir Gavhane, “The per capita income and human development index here are even lower than those of Bihar, and if you separate areas around Pune and Mumbai from Marathwada, the entire region comes under the most poverty-hit districts of the country.”

Of course the inevitable subject  Shiv Sena comes up for discussion. No one can afford to  ignore it. Shiv Sena is part of NDA and shares power with BJP in central as well as state government. But, at the same time they are playing role of opposition party. The party has strong base even after death of Bal Thackeray. The author correctly says, “The Shiv Sena’s stubborn and unequivocal position on a unified Maharashtra resulted in the resignation of the state’s advocate general Shreehari Aney who was rooting for the separation of not just Vidarbha but also Marathwada.” BJP is for the smaller states. BJP is in favour of statehood for Vidarbha but it cannot afford separation because that could result in its losing control of Maharashtra. Maharashtra will continue to remain more important than Vidarbha, even if separate state of Vidarbha becomes a reality.

BJP leadership has acknowledged the influence of Shiv Sena when Amit Shah, party president, addressing a meeting on the party’s foundation day in Mumbai said, “It is our ardent desire to contest the 2019 elections with the Shiv Sena.”

The reality is Maharashtra is passing through a dark phase like any other state. Sujata  rightly contends  “It is not confined to Maharashtra alone. There is a general disconnect between the masses and the leaders across India.” These disconnect between the people and political leaders are not a good sign for the democracy.

 The book is an ideal introduction to the great State of Maharashtra and in a brief analysis the author tackles a number of questions—such as--What is Maharashtra? What has been the contribution of various communities and castes in making the Maharashtra of today? What makes Mumbai a centre of political power?  Who is a Maharashtrian? .

P.P.Ramachandran.

11/11/2018.