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April 07

What's in a name?

What's in a name?

Its not Bombay................ ..its Mumbai

Its not Madras....................its Chennai

Its not Poona.................... .its Pune

Not calcutta ......................but kolkata

And finally.............It will no longer be Bangalore......but Bangalooru from 1 stNov '07.

Whatever may be the justification for changing it .....why should we continue the names which Britishers gave to these cities for their easy pronunciation?......it gels with our reguional culture ....etc....all of these are pure rubbish, according to me.

The names Bombay , Poona, Madras and Calcatta bring back nostalgic memories to all of us.I for example grew up in B'bay and did my schooling till 10 th there, in Chembur.

"Bombay" means, playing in our building, challenging the scorching heat during the summer vacation, from 8 am to 8 pm.

It also means having fun during Ganesha chaturthi.......singing bhajans, in a Mahrashtrian neighbour's house , collecting the handful of Prasad and relishing it all the 10 days........till the viserjan .

It also means visiting tamilian homes during dusserra pooja , singing ourselves hoarse at the top of our voice.......(you have to keep in mind that our society has put in strong stipulations against me singing even in Bathroom ...) and collecting our 'choondal' and promising that aunty ( or should it be threatening) to return every evening for 9 days and sing a new song ......

Diwali, Holi, ...Gokulastami, you name it ...No city celebrates all the functions with the same zest and enthusiasm.

On 'Roja' days we used to wait for our next door Muslim aunty to break their fast ..........we would also get sherbet and some mitai every evening.........

Bombay also means wearing new crips raincoats over your huge school bags and walk all the way to the school.Every season had a character to it, in Bombay.

On the flip side Bombay showed the Mumbai side of it also then....

Shivsena creating havoc in Mumbai, targeting southindians ( Madrasis),

killing them, humiliating them.

I was part of all that...

The name "Bombay" has a cosmopolitan feel to it. Mumbai, sounds too regional.

All cosmpolitan cities should not shed their cosmopolitan character.The name " Bombay" makes people of all relegion and region welcome on the other hand the nomenclature Mumbai is a result of narrowmindedness of a few people.

Same could be said of all the other cities I have mentioned above.

Isn't it a contradiction - we talk of globalization and name change to suit the local culture in one breadth?

I will always call these cities by their old names only.

5:22 PM | Blog it | OPINION

Comments (10)

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	Parag Panditwrote: I for one disagree. Honestly! (And not just for the heck of disagreeing). I don't see the logic in yours associating all your nice childhood memories with the word 'Bombay' and the word 'Mumbai' with bad politicians like Narendra Modi and all the rowdy Shivsena public. 'Mumbai' is the marathi word given by the local people to the region where you are staying. Similarly, Kolkata is the Bengali word, Pune the word from the time the brave Marathas and the great Peshwas established Hindavi Swaraj on this land freeing it from the Nizams, the Moughals, and the British. Mumbai could be associated with the great poets, actors, singers and writers of this land like Pu La Deshpande, Lata Mangeshkar, Acharya Atre, and so many great people. The city will remain what it is. Cosmopolitan or whatever you want to call it. You can't tell me that Mumbai isn't letting outsiders in after it got renamed! International cities like London, Paris, Tokyo have very cosmopolitan names. I don't think they are welcoming people to visit them without visas or admitting anyone who would take away the jobs from the local people or ones not paying taxes or harming the city in return. Mumbai does allow people of all religions and regions live and flourish! Saying anything else would mean being very ungrateful. A lot of places around the world have been renamed. And mind you, the names haven't been invented! They have been there all along even before the imperial names were dumped on us. You may continue calling the cities by their old names, but the really old names are the ones which are used now! Its the new 'given' names that we've got rid of. Before renaming, the city was like a woman being given a new name after getting married and having to forget her original name by which she was referred to since her childhood. 15 Aug.
	Nishank Sharmawrote: i so fucin agree wid ya, all da name-changin process iz a shit!...i dunno y da hell these politicians hav to do such crap things in order to get fame or a fuckin recognition for dat matter...! bangaluroo for example, may sounds pathetic to a person who's not livin in dat place, bombay, as u've said...alwayz sounded kooler than Mumbai, and sum fucin ass**les in lucknow are plannin to sign a petition to rename Delhi to Dehli...i dun unnerstan if dats gonna change the whole world for them if the name changes....these are our cities, so i think we better know wad to call it nd wat not...! 16 Apr.
	Ruma Senwrote: Hi Vasuda! So good to hear from you. Where were you all this time? I am feeling totally marooned out here...Busy Bangalore has suddenly got so death-like silent, it's almost scary! Feel sorry for all people stuck at different spots, like your hubby in Pune. I guess he's at least able to do work and entertain himself. In that respect, he's luckier than you! :) Glad to know you were able to sneak out of your sis's house successfully. Another day of closed shops and no TV...wonder how time is going to pass!? 13 Apr.
	vijay krishnanwrote: History does go with the names. Even though Madras was renamed Chennai, I m thankful the University of Madras is still known by the same name. A name is powerful only if it is permanent and consistent. New names mean new character and a break with the past. 11 Apr.
	MADDYwrote: i really wonder what sheak spear would have to say about all this??? i agree with you. it is civil war as always. 11 Apr.
	SAURABH DHALLwrote: i m totally agree with ur opinion.. and moreover i dont wanna b known as a guy working in bangaloru .. i cant even pronounce it that way... it sounds just so weird... and dost hows u..and how the things r going at ur end... seems like u hardly update... can we become msngr buddies ?? add me .. dhallsaurabh@hotmail.com bye dost... saurabh 9 Apr.
	Vishu wrote: i am also with ruma sen's comment 8 Apr.
	Ruma Senwrote: The city/road name-changing game is played not by the common citizens but power-hungry politicians who want to divert the public from the real issues at hand. By doing so they gain extra political mileage, and hence more time to fill their pockets with under-the-table dealings. No right-minded person can support this silly, mindless name-changing game and play up to these chauvinistic forces in our country. 8 Apr.

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