Shiv Sena

(“Army of Shivaji”) Militant Hindu organization formed in Bombay in the late
1960s by Bal Thackeray. It was originally
a movement made up of people native
to Maharashtra, a modern Indian “linguistic state” formed to unite people
with a common language, to resist the
perceived dominance of outsiders, in
this case migrants from Tamil Nadu who
were taking away jobs from the
Maharashtrian “sons of the soil.” This
nativist bent is reflected in its name, taking as its symbol the Maharashtrian
hero Shivaji, who successfully resisted
the power of the Moghul Empire. In
more recent times the movement has
associated itself with Hindutva or
Hindu nationalism, projecting itself as
defending the interests of the larger
Hindu community against the “outsiders,” in particular Muslims. The Shiv
Sena’s potential for violent action is well
known, and they have always been
ready to defend their interests with
physical force, as well as working
through official channels. The Sena’s
ability to provide “muscle power” has
given them political strength in
Maharashtra, both in the municipal
government of Bombay, and most
recently as a partner (with the Bharatiya
Janata Party) in running the state
government. This political strength
is being translated into a strong
presence in other areas, particularly
in labor unions, in which the Senaaffiliated union is gaining greater
influence and membership. See also
Moghul dynasty.