Bal Thackeray’s portrait to be unveiled at Vidhan Bhavan

Mumbai: The portrait of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, commissioned by chief minister Eknath Shinde soon after he came to power, is ready and will be unveiled in the central hall of Vidhan Bhavan on January 23, the founder’s birth anniversary

Mumbai: The portrait of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, commissioned by chief minister Eknath Shinde soon after he came to power, is ready and will be unveiled in the central hall of Vidhan Bhavan on January 23, the founder’s birth anniversary. The oil on canvas done by 66-year-old Alibag-based artist Chandrkala Kadam will be brought to Mumbai on Monday for framing, aligning with other portraits gracing the walls.

It will be the first time since they parted ways that the heads of the two Sena factions – Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray -- are likely face each other as they pay their respects to the late leader. (HT PHOTO)

It will be the first time since they parted ways that the heads of the two Sena factions – Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray -- are likely face each other as they pay their respects to the late leader.

The work of art however did not manage to draw an applause from Thackeray’s grandson Aaditya Thackeray. He said, “It seems as though the portrait was done in a hurry. As it is a painting of an artist, it was crucial to get it right.” As for the inaugural function, the Sena (UBT) leader said, “He (Thackeray) would have been ashamed that the inauguration was being done at the hands of gaddars who sold their souls for khokes.” He added that the family will decide later who among them will grace the event.

Speaker Rahul Narwekar picked out Kadam’s work from the submissions made by many artists for the project. “I finished the work in 20 days. Recently, industries minister Uday Samant also visited us and found work satisfactory,” said Kadam.

Kadam, an alumna of the Sir J J School of Art, has met Thackeray five times in the past, including the time when the supremo’s wife Meenatai “invited me home soon after my marriage”.

The dimensions of the portrait -- 3.5 feet in height and 2.5 feet in width – are in keeping with all the others that grace the central hall. Kadam said she has also done portraits of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar which was unveiled in the Parliament by A P J Abdul Kalam in 2003. In the same year, she painted the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

“It was difficult to choose from Thackeray’s many images for the portrait, but we decided to go with a frame when he was young,” said Narwekar. He added all the legislators will grace the event.

Bal Thackeray passed away in 2012. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, headed by his son Uddhav Thackeray, had taken steps to speed up a memorial of the late founder but Shinde scored over him by announcing that the portrait will be installed in Vidhan Bhavan. In 2013 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj had demanded Thackeray’s bust be installed in Vidhan Bhavan.

In the past, Shinde has reiterated that it was he and not Uddhav who was following in the footsteps of the late leader and walking the path of Hindutva. It will be interesting to see the erstwhile aides come together on the same platform later this month.