Mumbai:
He's a third-year history student, a third-generation Thackeray and he's recently earned his first political coming-of-age moment.
We're talking about the latest Thackeray on the block, Aditya Thackeray, son of Sena's Executive President Uddhav, who recently led a bunch of students against Rohinton Mistry's book 'Such A Long Journey' - an optional read in the BA syllabus at the Mumbai University.
He said certain references to the Shiv Sena and its leader Bal Thackeray are objectionable.
(Also read - Show Tihar jail instead of Bigg Boss: Sena scion)
What followed shocked Mumbai's education circles. The vice-chancellor ordered the withdrawal of the book less than 24 hours after the Shiv Sena's student wing's objections and mid-way through the term.
Academicians say that though the university has the right to decide its curriculum, none of those procedures were followed in this case.
Professor Vispi Balaporia, Member of Senate at the University of Mumbai told NDTV, "Let's not forget, this is a work of fiction. If someone takes an objection to what a particular character is saying, then he has not fully understood the essence of characterisation."
Many have mirrored her feelings. Currently there are at least two online petitions that seek to reverse the hasty decision taken by the V-C, signature campaigns that are already gathering momentum in the virtual world.
Professor Balaporia says, "This is not the first time the book has been part of the syllabus. But someone has woken up to it now because of the political leverage they can get out of it. I'm afraid the V-C has played into their hands. This will undermine the autonomy of the Mumbai University."
Avinash Kadam, member of the Citizens Initiative For Peace adds, "Bal Thackeray himself was a cartoonist. Cartoons lampoon other people. How can freedom of expression hold right for him and not for others?"
To the growing outrage in academic circles and civil society this is Aditya's reply: What about the Congress trying to ban the controversial Spanish biography of Sonia Gandhi Red Sari?
But there are a few facts that even Thackeray junior will find hard to ignore. Mistry's book is 20 years old, has been a part of the curriculum for long and has already survived the era of Bal Thackeray!