Thackerays Admiration of Hitler

Thackeray has attracted controversy for his praise of Adolf Hitler.

He was quoted by Asiaweek as saying:

    I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common … What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand.”

In an interview with the Indian Express that was printed on January 29, 2007, Thackeray remarked,

    Hitler did very cruel and ugly things. But he was an artist, I love him (for that). He had the power to carry the whole nation, the mob with him. You have to think what magic he had. He was a miracle … The killing of Jews was wrong. But the good part about Hitler was that he was an artist. He was a daredevil. He had good qualities and bad. I may also have good qualities and bad ones.

His opponents have used these remarks against him and accused him of a fascist ideology. Thackeray’s supporters, such as columnist Varsha Bhosle, have defended Thackeray’s position as necessary in what they claim is an atmosphere of religious extremism against Hindus. In defense of a statement by Thackeray that “If the Muslims of India behave as the Jews in Germany did, they will deserve the same treatment,” Bhosle writes:

    Germany’s Jews ? What else is required for Hindus to shake off the stupor and consider protecting our civilisation and culture? If telling it like it is makes one a Nazi, I say: Fine, better that than the spineless, deaf, dumb, numb and blind state exalted as Nehruvian Secularism. I wouldn’t even spit on it.

In an article appearing in Newindpress.com on August 20, 2007, Thackeray is quoted as wanting to be a dictator and the Hitler of the whole of India:

    He is on record as having told the Navakal: “Yes, I am a dictator. It is a Hitler that is needed in India today.” He was once asked in a television programme whether he wanted to be the Hitler of Mumbai. “Do not underestimate me,” he is reported to have retorted. “I am (the Hitler) of the whole of Maharashtra and want to be of whole of India.” The Hitler question was put to him in September 1996 by Outlook magazine as well during an interview. “Once you’d expressed admiration for certain facets of Hitler.” “Comparison was inevitable,” the interviewer prompted. Thackaray said: “I have not sent anybody to the gas chamber. If I’d been like that, you wouldn’t have dared to come and interview me.”