Mumbai, my Bombay

Bombay has always been Mumbai for me; I never had a conflict of calling it Bombay or Mumbai. Perhaps Bombay reminds me of the British influence that made it ‘Bombay’-South Mumbai architecture, trains, Gateway of India, etc. Not that I don’t like these, mind you, if South Mumbai was a food item, I could have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can’t be thankful enough for my college being in an area I so love. At the same time, it makes me uncomfortable, to not see Mumbai in its totality-including the suburbs, the koliwadas, the beauty of the Marathiness of Dadar, the new developments in areas like Bandra Kurla Complex and Powai, and the history of the city before the Brits made it ‘Bombay’. After all, these are the things made by us.

Maybe I prefer calling the city Mumbai since I am a Maharashtrian. Would Parisians call Paris the way we call it? Would the Germans call Munich the same? Palestine? Mumbai, for me, retains my roots, my Maharashtrianess.

I, having been fortunate enough to study the history of Shivaji Maharaj, don’t have a problem with naming landmarks his name. I am proud of my history. Why do I call a station by some Brit Queen of the 1800s, who exploited colonies, which incidentally, includes my country? What’s wrong with calling it instead by the name of someone who resisted the Mughal invasion of this very region commendably? Those who complain of the complicated pronunciations and long name of ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’ , ‘Franz Josef Strauss’  is the name of the airport in Munich, ‘Charles De Gaulles’ is of Paris and of course, ‘John F. Kennedy’ of New York. It is probably our more Anglicised exposure as compared to our own language, that makes it easier for us to pronounce and remember the others better. Those who still want to be critical should be excused to call it as they please. Their choice  should be respected.

 

It is a wonder, how infrequently I speak Marathi once I step out of home. Thankfully I get my enough dose at home, where it is the only language spoken, however my level of fluency in it may be. How many of us learn an extra foreign language, but have never attempted to learn Marathi in spite of calling Mumbai our home? Because it is not exotic enough? I have never gone out of my way and explored the rich culture my language provides; never made an attempt to read Marathi newspapers which might have something different to say. Shame on me!

Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, yes. It is secular, yes. It is welcoming, yes. But let us not ignore the roots.