The late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's favouritenewspapers Saamna (in Marathi) and Dopahar Ka Saamna (in Hindi) sported blackfront pages as a mark of mourning for the second consecutive day Monday.
Thackeray, 86, who passed away Saturday, was founder-editorof both newspapers though day-to-day affairs were managed by his hand-pickedand trusted executive editors.
This is the first time in Saamna's history since its launchJan 23, 1988, that its two main cover pages were printed in sheer black twodays in a row.
On the jacket cover is a large picture of Bal Thackeraywaving adieu to the people with a huge headline in Marathi: "Worldwitnesses Shiv Sena chief's power and Shiv Sainiks' devotion" - and asmall accompanying story with a big picture of the crowds outside Shiv SenaBhavan Sunday, during the funeral.
The inside main cover has a flier headline: "Storm subsidesin the lap of Shivtirth", referring to the public cremation held atShivaji Park in south-central Mumbai Sunday.
This was an apparent a continuation of Sunday's headline:"A storm called Balasaheb is peaceful," and accompanied by a collageof pictures showing the unprecedented turnout for the funeral, a serene imageof Bal Thackeray covered by the Indian flag, the gun salute, and the bodyconsigned to flames.
The Hindi daily eveninger, Dopahar Ka Saamna, Monday on afull black background, shows a grieving Uddhav performing the funeral rites(with the earthen pot on his left shoulder), in the backdrop of the flamesleaping from his father's funeral pyre.
The headline reads: "Volcano goes down in flames."
Saamna was founded as a party organ to convey Thackeray'sviews to the Marathi masses directly.
Dopahar Ka Saamna was launched Feb 23, 1993 to woo northIndians settled in Maharashtra and also make Thackeray's voice and views heardin the national capital.
Over the years, Thackeray had mastered the art of using thetwo newspapers' columns -- stern leaders, acidic edits, rare signed edits orstatements and an occasional personalised edit -- through which he spared none,be they relatives, friends or foes.
Besides, there were his annual interviews, running intoseveral instalments, spread over two to four days in the newspapers. In hislifetime, Thackeray rarely spoke to mainstream media, and abhorred the Englishmedia.
Two days after his demise, Thackeray's name continued toappear as Editor in its regular place, just as it has been since the launch ofthe newspapers.