Meenatai Thackeray or Meena Thackeray (1932-1995) was the wife of Bal Thackeray, an Indian politician known for founding the Shiv Sena, a right-wing pro-Marathi and Hindu nationalist political party, active mainly in the state. Maharashtra.
Wiki/Biography
Meenatai Thackeray was born Sarla Vaidya on Wednesday, 6 January 1932 (age 63 years; at time of death), and she hailed from Mumbai, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. She is a housewife. Although Meena never plunged into active politics, she played an important behind-the-scenes role in the formation of the Shiv Sena.
Family
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about his parents. His younger sister, Kunda Thackeray (aka Madhuwanti), married Bal Thackeray’s brother, Shrikant Thackeray.
Kunda Thackeray
Husband & Son
On 13 June 1948, she married Balasaheb Thackeray.
Bal Thackeray and Meena Thackeray
Together, they had and have three sons, the eldest son Bindumadhav Thackeray, the middle son Jaidev Thackeray, and the youngest son Uddhav Thackeray. Bindumadhav is a filmmaker best known for producing the Bollywood film ‘Agni Sakshi,’ starring Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Manisha Koirala. Bindumadhav died on 20 April 1996 in a car accident. Following his father’s footsteps, Uddhav Thackeray entered politics and later became the leader of the Shiv Sena.
Uddhav Thackeray (far left) with Bal Thackeray (centre) at the funeral of his brother Bindumadhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray with his brother Jaidev Thackeray (right)
religious views
In an interview, Bal Thackeray, while talking about his wife, Meena, revealed that she is a very pious woman. He said,
My wife is so pious, so obedient, so religious. But it was in vain. After he went to the Ganesh Chaturthi function in Bombay, we forgot his emergency medicine bottle and went to Karjat. Here are the tests for gods and goddesses. It was God’s job to remind him of the emergency bottle. If not, then you and your faith are lost.”
Address
Matoshree, Bandra-east, Mumbai
Death
On 6 September 1995, he died of a heart attack in Karjat, Maharashtra. After attending a Ganesh Chaturthi function in Mumbai, he forgot to bring a bottle of emergency medicine with him when he went to Karjat.
Legacy
- Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray Smarak outside Shivaji Park, Mumbai
- Minatai Thakare Stadium in Nashik, Maharashtra
- Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai
- Meenatai Thackeray Blood Bank – Siddharth Hospital, Siddharth Nagar, Prabhodhan Kridabhawan Marg, Goregaon (W) Mumbai
- Meenatai Balasaheb Thackeray Banquet Hall, Mira-Bhayandar, Maharashtra
- Maasaheb Minatai Thakre Maternity Home, Sion Chunabhatti, Mumbai
Facts/Trivia
- He is also referred to as Maa-saheb, by Shiv Sainiks (devout followers of Shiv Sena). . All members of the Thackeray family, including Bal Thackeray, fondly call her Maa.
- Indian actress Amrita Rao plays Meena Thackeray in the 2019 Indian biographical film ‘Thackeray.’
Amrita Rao as Meena Thackeray in Thackeray (2019)
- In the 1980s, Balasaheb and Meenatai watched a black-and-white film based on the life of Gadge Maharaj, an Indian priest and social reformer. The film shows how Gadge Maharaj developed a residential center for people to shelter and spend the rest of their lives there. Intrigued by the film, Meena Tai decided to start a similar initiative. Balasaheb agreed to the idea and laid the foundation of the Ramadham Old Home near Khopoli, Maharashtra, in 1990.
- She was instrumental in establishing The Mahila Aghadi, the women’s wing of the Shiv Sena formed by Bal Thackeray in 1985.
- After the death of his wife, Balasaheb turned into an agnostic and threw away the lazy rudraksh given to him by Swami Gagangiri Maharaj. Remembering his wife, in an interview, Balasaheb said,
When he needed it, the medicine was not there and we lost him. If god doesn’t come to your aid when you need him, then what’s the point. I have removed all Ganesh pictures from my house. But the picture will be there.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
