What's In the Name - Mumbai - vs Bombay

[Pedro Gonzales]

Bombay?? Surely you don't use that name anymore?

Those of us that were born when it was Bombay refuse to refer to her as anything else.

[Spectator]

Those of us that were born when it was Bombay refuse to refer to her as anything else.

Pedro,

I totally understand. I would be the same. Some people see it as very un-PC to use the old name (quite unnecessarily in my view). I'll probably get into trouble saying that!

[seahawks2012]

Those of us that were born when it was Bombay refuse to refer to her as anything else.

Respectfully disagreeing with you! There are those of us that were born (in Mumbai) when it was Bombay would still always prefer to call it "Mumbai"!!!

[Pedro Gonzales]

Pedro,

I totally understand. I would be the same. Some people see it as very un-PC to use the old name (quite unnecessarily in my view). I'll probably get into trouble saying that!

It's still considered acceptable in Bombay to call it Bombay unless you're in a Shiv Sena rally, I think. Of course, 30 years from now, the kids will probably think I'm a senile old man longing for the good old days of the Raj.

In 'A Suitable Boy', Vikram Seth pokes fun at this dude who still referred to Kanpur as Cawnpore. That was set in the 60s, barely 15 years or so after the name change, about how long we're from Bombay's name change to Mumbai. I still refer to Chennai (where i went to college) as Madras, too, so maybe it's just me.

[Jagan01]

It's still considered acceptable in Bombay to call it Bombay unless you're in a Shiv Sena rally, I think. Of course, 30 years from now, the kids will probably think I'm a senile old man longing for the good old days of the Raj.

In 'A Suitable Boy', Vikram Seth pokes fun at this dude who still referred to Kanpur as Cawnpore. That was set in the 60s, barely 15 years or so after the name change, about how long we're from Bombay's name change to Mumbai. I still refer to Chennai (where i went to college) as Madras, too, so maybe it's just me.

Its all based on your preference. Being born in Bombay, I still call it the way I always used to. If I am talking in my mother tongue then I will say Mumbai. If I am talking to a friend in English or Hindi then I will say Bombay.

[seahawks2012]

It's still considered acceptable in Bombay to call it Bombay unless you're in a Shiv Sena rally, I think.

That is too presumptuous. I believe in freedom of speech and you may call the city with whatever name you may suit. Don't make blanket statements about what people call it and which people call it.
And NO people outside of Shiv Sena rally also call it Mumbai!!!

[seahawks2012]

Apparently there is also a town called Bombay in New York state:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay,_New_York

[qesehmk]

I am the same way. I never called it Bombay when speaking Marathi. And generally called Bombay when speaking in hindi or English.

But - A rose is a rose - that's what Shakespeare said. I love "Aamchi mumbai" whatever you call it and i am sure you do too.

Its all based on your preference. Being born in Bombay, I still call it the way I always used to. If I am talking in my mother tongue then I will say Mumbai. If I am talking to a friend in English or Hindi then I will say Bombay.

[qesehmk]

One is right here! But just like you i don't have a problem anybody calling it Bombay.

That is too presumptuous. I believe in freedom of speech and you may call the city with whatever name you may suit. Don't make blanket statements about what people call it and which people call it.
And NO people outside of Shiv Sena rally also call it Mumbai!!!

[dhakaldoo]

I am the same way. I never called it Bombay when speaking Marathi. And generally called Bombay when speaking in hindi or English.

But - A rose is a rose - that's what Shakespeare said. I love "Aamchi mumbai" whatever you call it and i am sure you do too.

Eggzactly. Being from Marathi school, we always said mumbai. Heck, we didnt even say 'bye' on parting we said Achha! .. I only learnt about bombay later after going to engg ...
so I dont understand the fuss about changing it from Bombay to mumbai..

Also the original name came from mumbadevi.. which makes it easier
after all chennai was once madras, kolkatta was Calcuta.. why cant Bombay (which was always mumbai for me ) be Mumbai without mention of SHivsena?
Peace!

[Pedro Gonzales]

That is too presumptuous. I believe in freedom of speech and you may call the city with whatever name you may suit. Don't make blanket statements about what people call it and which people call it.
And NO people outside of Shiv Sena rally also call it Mumbai!!!

I don't think I'm being presumptuous at all and I think you're taking this whole thing a little too seriously. I prefer Bombay, you prefer Mumbai, Jagan and Q use both, the Shiv Sena prefers Mumbai, but all of that is pointless, because the city is Mumbai, most people now call it that and in some years everyone will. I don't think there's anything else to be said on the subject.

If this takes on more steam, I'll move this whole discussion to another thread so as to keep the integrity of this one, but I'm hoping this will be the last word on the subject.

[qesehmk]

Pedro - I did it for you. Those interested in further discussion can duke it out here.

[Pedro Gonzales]

Pedro - I did it for you. Those interested in further discussion can duke it out here.

Thanks Q.

Some folks seem offended by my comments so I think it may be relevant to mention that a) I too was born in Bombay, when it was still Bombay and b) I too always referred to it as Mumbai in Marathi.

[qesehmk]

Thanks Q.

Some folks seem offended by my comments so I think it may be relevant to mention that a) I too was born in Bombay, when it was still Bombay and b) I too always referred to it as Mumbai in Marathi.

Take it easy Pedro. Sometimes people are emotional about somethings. I too am sometimes. But over time India is integrating and it is good for India and Indians.

I remember in 1988 I went to mysore for SSB interview (I didn't clear it unfortunately); that time when I spoke in Hindi in Mysore - people looked at me as if they would kill me. Today Bangalore / mysore could care less who speaks in Hindi. At least Bangalore (or bengaluru) is so much cosmopolitan. Perhaps Kannada people are minority now.

[Spectator]

It's still considered acceptable in Bombay to call it Bombay unless you're in a Shiv Sena rally, I think. Of course, 30 years from now, the kids will probably think I'm a senile old man longing for the good old days of the Raj.

In 'A Suitable Boy', Vikram Seth pokes fun at this dude who still referred to Kanpur as Cawnpore. That was set in the 60s, barely 15 years or so after the name change, about how long we're from Bombay's name change to Mumbai. I still refer to Chennai (where i went to college) as Madras, too, so maybe it's just me.

Pedro,

Thanks for your simple and clear explanation, which I believe was an answer to me only.

I'm only sorry (for you alone) that I appear to have touched on an emotional subject.

[vizcard]

PS Bombay?? Surely you don't use that name anymore?

Spec
Mumbai is a place, Bombay is a state of mind !

---------------
viz - sorry i moved all this dicsussion to this thread. Hope you don't mind. - Q

[vizcard]

Reminds of a quote from Anchorman by Ron Burgundy after that insane fight
"Wow that escalated quickly!"

[GCKnowHow]

Search for Delhi, NY in maps. you will find one.

Apparently there is also a town called Bombay in New York state:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay,_New_York

[GCKnowHow]

It's still considered acceptable in Bombay to call it Bombay unless you're in a Shiv Sena rally, I think. Of course, 30 years from now, the kids will probably think I'm a senile old man longing for the good old days of the Raj.

In 'A Suitable Boy', Vikram Seth pokes fun at this dude who still referred to Kanpur as Cawnpore. That was set in the 60s, barely 15 years or so after the name change, about how long we're from Bombay's name change to Mumbai. I still refer to Chennai (where i went to college) as Madras, too, so maybe it's just me.

I agree. But any writing in tamil always had Chennai as name including postal address, bus boards, bill boards, etc. Only in english its Madras. So the name changed to chennai later. I would prefer it to be Madras, as many people around the world knows by that name, Madras University is still know around the world and the name remains.

Was it the same case with Mumbai versus Bombay too?

[GCKnowHow]

I agree. But any writing in tamil always had Chennai as name including postal address, bus boards, bill boards, etc. Only in english its Madras. So the name changed to chennai later. I would prefer it to be Madras, as many people around the world knows by that name, Madras University is still know around the world and the name remains.

Was it the same case with Mumbai versus Bombay too?

Why do i see "Mumba****ersus" hee hee....