Mumbai: Khandke building's Thackeray legacy

The Khandke building on RK Vaidya Marg in Dadar West near Plaza Cinema has strong Shiv Sena ties. This is where late Balasaheb Thackeray grew up with his father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, also known as Prabhodankar, and mother Ramabai. The building is located in a lane near the busy Shiv Sena Bhavan chowk. It also holds historical significance also because it bears testimony to the rebellion against Ganeshotsav celebrations being reserved only for Brahmins, thus rendering it hugely imortant vis-a-vis Maharashtra politics.

Prabhodankar, who was a social reformer, had begun celebrating Navratri in Khandke building as a sign of rebellion against the upper caste-dominated celebration of Ganapati festival. A reform was introduced in 1926, which paved the way for mass Ganapati celebrations in Dadar.

Journalist Sachin Parab, who has documented Prabhodankar's life and work, said, "Prabhodankar stayed at various places in Mumbai. But Khandke building was the place where he settled and it paved the way for his social activists."

He also noted that his social reforms, especially making Ganeshotsav celebrations a mass affair, was later used as a tool by Shiv Sena to consolidate its influence."

Sena leader Neelam Gore said, "The Khandke building is iconic. This is where the momentous reforms in Maharashtra such as the drive to help the 'Marathi manus' identity thrive, started in Mumbai. The party owes its identity to Dadar and this structure which the Thackerays once called home and eventually turned it into a centre of political activism in the 1960's."

"The building is now 100 years old and should be revamped. With people's participation and keeping their needs in mind, the buildings can go in for a re-development," Gore added.