02 October,2026 11:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Raj Thackeray. File Pic
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday marked Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary by saying that Gandhi's teachings on questioning authority and standing up for one's conscience remain particularly relevant in the current political climate.
In a post on X, Thackeray criticised what he described as the increasingly ceremonial nature of tributes to national leaders, arguing that remembering Gandhi should extend beyond garlanding statues and commemorating his birth and death anniversaries.
"Today marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Unfortunately, our remembrance of great figures is often limited to their birth and death anniversaries, garlanding their statues and taking photographs," Thackeray said.
He said public remembrance had increasingly become associated with statues and photographs rather than with the principles associated with the individuals being commemorated.
"We tend to equate memorials solely with statues, and posing for photos with those statues has become our new form of paying tribute. Be that as it may," he added.
Thackeray then linked Gandhi's teachings to contemporary political debates, saying the Mahatma's emphasis on questioning authority was particularly important at a time when criticism of those in power can attract strong reactions.
"However, under the current regime, remembering Gandhiji is more crucial than ever. He taught us to question authority, something the powers-that-be do not appreciate," Thackeray said.
He alleged that people who raise questions against those in power can face accusations of being "anti-national", and said this was contrary to the democratic space for dissent.
"The moment questions are raised; they and their army of âtrolls' are eager to brand you an anti-national," he said.
Thackeray also referred to protests, the use of force against demonstrators and concerns surrounding the independence of constitutional institutions.
"Today, protests are viewed with suspicion, force is used against demonstrators, and the autonomy of constitutional bodies like the Election Commission is under question. In times like these, Gandhiji is needed most," he said.
The MNS chief said he believed one of Gandhi's most significant contributions was demonstrating that ordinary citizens could resist authority through reason and conscience.
"What is the greatest gift Gandhiji gave to this nation? I believe it is the common person's power to say âno' to authority," he said.
Thackeray argued that while governments have legal authority and control over state institutions, they cannot control an individual's ability to think independently.
"The government possesses the law, the brute force of power, and the ability to alter laws to suit its convenience; and the exclusive power to label individuals as criminals based on those laws," he said.
He added that Gandhi had demonstrated the limits of state power when confronted with an individual's conscience and capacity for rational thought.
Thackeray also criticised what he described as efforts to undermine independent thinking through social media and the spread of information online.
"Yet, Gandhiji demonstrated that despite all this, the government cannot claim ownership over the common person's capacity for rational thought or over their conscience," he said.
"In the current era of social media and âWhatsApp Universities,' there is a concerted effort to undermine this very capacity. Therefore, everyone must remain vigilant," he added.
He further said that those in power needed to be reminded that democratic authority ultimately rests with citizens.
"Those in power need to be reminded, from time to time, that in a democracy, the people are sovereign," Thackeray said.
He also defended the role of political protests and public participation, saying agitations and marches could serve as a means of communicating public concerns to governments.
"One must not forget that agitations and marches organized by political parties, and the public participation within them, serve to make those in power aware of the situation. Indeed, this lies at the very heart of Gandhiji's teachings," he said.
Thackeray concluded by saying that while those in power may commemorate Gandhi through ceremonial tributes, his broader principles may be less convenient for them.
"That is why those in power need Gandhiji only for ceremonial tributes; the rest of his principles do not suit their convenience. Yet, we must never forget that democracy always needs Gandhiji," he said.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray ended his post by paying tribute to Gandhi on his birth anniversary.
