Uddhav Thackeray makes remarks linking historical Maratha events with contemporary student protests. He praises the “heroic efforts” of the Maratha warrior who captures Torna Fort at the age of 17, describing the feat as occurring when the warrior was still in a “Gen Z” phase. Thackeray draws a parallel between that youthful bravery and what he characterizes as the energy and actions of Gen Z student protesters.
In the same context, he recalls statements attributed to others that use derogatory language in reference to Gen Z and to historical figures associated with Shivaji. According to the account, Thackeray says that Gen Z has been called “cockroaches,” and that the Mughals referred to Shivaji as a “rat.” The remarks are presented as part of Thackeray’s broader comparison of age, identity, and treatment of protesters with how historical figures are spoken about. Across the report, the focus remains on the contrast between youthful participation in decisive historical action and the presence of insulting or dismissive rhetoric in present-day discourse.
