In Pics: Bal Thackeray and his heyday when he ruled Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 18: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray breathed his last on Saturday, Nov 17. His funeral procession began from his residence Matoshree in Mumbai on Sunday.

Bal Thackeray's body will be kept at Shivaji Park for darshan. His last rites will be performed at the same place from where the Sena chief had started his political career in 1966.

Bal Thackeray's startling transformation from an introvert cartoonist into an autocrat who ruled over a vibrant metropolis and million minds was aided by the sub-nationalism that has affected almost all parts of the country since independence.

Bal Thackeray in his heyday

In this file photo Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray gets ready to enact a scene from a play "Janata Raja" on the life of Shivaji the great Maratha Warrior.

Bal Thackeray, the Cartoonist

Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist in Bombay. His cartoons were also published in the Sunday edition of The Times of India.

In 1960, he launched a cartoon weekly Marmik with his brother. He used it to campaign against the growing numbers and influence of non-Marathi people in Mumbai targeting Gujaratis and South Indian labor workers.

Bal Thackeray, the Senapati of Shiv Sena

He formed the Shiv Sena on Jun 19, 1966 with the intent of fighting for the rights of the natives of the state of Maharashtra.

The early objective of the Shiv Sena was to ensure job security for Maharashtrians competing against immigrants from southern India, Gujaratis and Marwaris.

Bal Thackeray, the Remote Control

Shiv Sena is an ally of BJP-led NDA. The BJP-Shiv Sena combine won the 1995 Maharashtra State Assembly elections and came to power.

During the tenure of the government from 1995 to 1999, Thackeray was nicknamed 'remote control' since he played a major role in government policies and decisions from behind the scenes.

Bal Thackeray & his struggle for Marathi Manoos

Thackeray claimed that the Shiv Sena had helped the Marathi manoos (Maharashtrian laymen) in Mumbai and also fought for the rights of Hindu people.

Thackeray was a staunch Hindu and believed that Hindus must be organised to struggle against those who oppose their identity and religion.

Bal Thackeray, the Warrior

In this file photo Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray gets ready to enact a scene from a play "Janata Raja" on the life of Shivaji the great Maratha Warrior.

Bal Thackeray: Issues & Actions

Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remained opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, although they indicated support for an "Indian alternative."

However, in some cases, the Shiv Sena has been more tolerant during Valentine's Day celebrations.

Struggle for power after Bal Thackeray

Struggle for power may start between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray as a vacuum has been created with Bal Thackeray's demise.

Now, it will be interesting to see who will take over Bal Thackeray's role - son Uddhav or nephew Raj?

Bal Thackeray, the Sarkar of Mumbai

Thackery is satirised in Salman Rushdie's 1995 novel The Moor's Last Sigh as 'Raman Fielding'. Suketu Mehta interviewed Thackeray in his critically acclaimed, Pulitzer-nominated, non-fiction 2004 book Maximum City.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan's Sarkar film series is loosely based on his life and family.

Bal Thackeray's passes away at 86

Leaving all behind, the senapati passed away on Saturday, Nov 17. His last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday.