mumbai or bombay ?

sybriel

hello everybody,

my question is simple and may sound stupid, but how do the locals usually call the city ? i've seen it called Bombay by Indians (Mira Nair or Suketu Mehta...)and i've also read polemics about the word Mumbai itself (being derived from Hindu gods, so not taking into account the religious variety of India).
your opinion on that matter would be very interesting.

thanks

snonymous

The official name is Mumbai.

People who have been around when it was Bombay may still sometimes use that name out of force of habit.

judecg

I was interested in this too.. wasn't sure what to call it when I came. All my friends call it Bombay (and they are all young - in their 20's)... I really don't know anyone who calls it Mumbai. I have heard some mention that the naming of Mumbai was connected with the Shiv Sena ... but I don't know the details. That makes it a little negative to me.... if accurate

Of course all the official places... news channels etc say Mumbai. But that's different. As my husband says.. it's like no one calls New Delhi 'New Delhi'

ronsaik

There was a brief phase when a lot of people started calling it Mumbai, maybe to prove that they watch the news. The same bunch also thought Myanmar was cool.

shashank.aggarwal

oh well, Bombay or Mumbai, its the same great city. Maybe some hardcore Mumbaikars or Bombayites think about it twice, but for all others its same difference.

Like in Delhi, unless you are conversing in English, no one calls in Delhi. Its Dilli for us, and I cannot see it any other way.

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PeakXV

In Canada the english news channels call it 'Mumbai' and the french stations call it 'Bombay'. Accordingly, I'm kinda of stuck in the middle at the present and going with either ..... 'Bombai' or 'Mumbay' !!!!

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sybriel

so i see it does not seem to be a big deal, does it ? just wanted to be sure no one would be offended if i say one or the other.

cheers

judecg

Not at all I say Bombay ... no one cares.

What does drive me nuts though is the foreign journo's who say "Mum-bay"

Familyonthemove

Most my Indian friends seem to call the city Bombay. I also saw some reports about a drive to change the official name back to Bombay after the recent tragic attack, as the name Mumbai was thought to be unlucky.

It's a bit like Saigon .... even in Vietnam many people still call it Saigon. And Bangkok is really 'Krungthep'.

But nearly everyone seems to use 'Navi Mumbai' for the new area rather than 'New Bombay'.

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sybriel

it would probably be very difficult to change the name back to Bombay, but it seems that this name referring to the old Portuguese colonies, it might be less of a dividing theme than Mumbai which refers to Hindu gods. I can understand that Indians would think about this move regarding the series of attacks in 2008.

were you there during the attacks ?
what did you think, how did you feel ?
and now, how do people feel ?

sannna

Although most people don't really seem to care, calling the city Mumbai or Bombay is sometimes slightly more politicized, I think. I make sure that when I meet Shiv Sena or RSS (hindu-fundamentalist/nationalist or whatever) people, I use "Mumbai". Or they will correct me. Certain social activists (on the left side of the political spectrum) make it case to say Bombay and poinjt out that calling it Mumbai is a political statement... As a foreigner it is sometimes even more complicated as people think you have a colonial mindset if you prefer the old name...
Usually I mix it up in conversations. Sometimes calling it Mumbai, sometimes Bombay. When I talk in hindi it is usually Mumbai, in English both.

piran_e

Initially when the name got changed I used to be pretty bugged and made sure I always called in Bombay. Moreso as the Shiv Sena was on a crazy political spree of renaming places. Though now it really makes no difference to me ' A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'

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sybriel

this is all really interesting and although it is probably not a big deal for us foreigners, it seems to be a sensitive subject for Indians, especially with recent events.
i think i'll go for a mix of both names, as sanna does...

snonymous

Only for certain Shiv Sena or MNS types.

Most Indians are more concerned with earning enough to provide a decent life for their families. It is politicians and the lumpens they instigate who are more concerned with petty things like changing names of cities, instead of providing adequate infrastructure and other more important facets of living.

sybriel

sorry, but what are MNS ?!!