This silent sympathy and support is what’s spurring them on, say MNS leaders. Maharashtrian college-goers took a detour last Wednesday evening to drop by at Raj’s Shivaji Park residence, to let him know "that we are with him". The Letters to the Editor columns in English newspapers have Maharashtrians writing in to support the Marathi cause while cautioning Raj on his methods. An opinion poll run by a national daily six months back threw up an interesting paradox: a majority of Mumbaikars slammed Raj for raking up the Marathi cause, but a majority of Maharashtrians in Mumbai backed him. As noted actor Sandeep Kulkarni puts it: "I completely condemn the violence Raj has unleashed but I do agree with the cause."
As Raj prepared to spend October 21 night in the Manpada police lock-up, the cops called for the nearest doctor on their panel to conduct the mandatory check-up. She, incidentally a Maharashtrian, rushed in with ageing parents who wanted to "bless Raj for his guts". After the check-up and "blessings", the family wanted a photo taken with him; the police obliged. "When I go home, I will tell my family that I spent the entire night talking to Raj himself," gushed a cop on duty that night. "This is the groundswell of support we have," declares advocate Rajendra Shirodkar, Raj’s childhood friend and now his lawyer.
When Raj launched a campaign in July for Marathi signboards in shops and hotels, the official seal of support came from none other than municipal commissioner Jairaj Pathak. The government, the municipal corporation and the Shiv Sena were unable to implement the law on local language signboards till the MNS agitation forced all commercial establishments to follow it. This "victory" encouraged him to take on the Bachchans, the government and now the Railway Recruitment Board. "The less than 40 per cent Maharashtrians, in a Marathi city, are bound to feel overshadowed and insecure. Raj plays on these insecurities," says B. Venkatesh Kumar, director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies.
Of course, there are Maharashtrians who do not find his cause attractive or his methods appealing; there is a Shobhaa De or an Anand Patwardhan. But, there is also adman Bharat Dabholkar or actor Sandeep Kulkarni who believe Maharashtrians shouldn’t be marginalised in Mumbai. The MNS credo—"If Kolkata is for Bengalis, Chennai is for Tamilians, Mumbai is for Marathis"—finds increasing resonance.
