Yesterday, the British newspaper The Independent announced that it would switch back to using the name Bombay, rather than Mumbai, to refer to the India's financial and entertainment hub. Its editor Amol Ranjan said that the step was a stand against "the close-minded view" of right-wing Hindu nationalists.
In 1995, the Indian metropolis' colonial-era name Bombay was replaced with Mumbai, its name in Marathi, a language widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra where it is located. The decision was taken under the government ruled by the right-wing Shiv Sena party, who Rajan referred to without naming. The two names are used interchangeably in common parlance, but their use in films and songs has often raked controversy.
“What's at stake with Bombay is the whole idea of a cosmopolitan port city that's the gateway to and of India,” Rajan said in an interview to BBC Radio. “If you choose the word Mumbai instead of Bombay, you collude with the nationalists in closing off Bombay from the world.” Born in Kolkata, Rajan has been the editor of The Independent since 2013.
While the decision was appreciated by some, it sparked off a series of jokes in India.
The Independent thinks the name 'Mumbai' shows nasty Hindu nationalism. But,dear old thing,been calling it that in Marathi since I was born!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 11, 2016
What The Independent did with 'Bombay' is like a Hero putting his jacket on the Heroine. Without asking her if she's even feeling cold.
— वरुण (@varungrover) February 11, 2016
The Independent is going back to calling itself The Monarchist
— Rohan (@mojorojo) February 11, 2016
"We shall henceforth refer to Mumbai as Bombay" - says The Independent, a newspaper printed in Londonium in Britannia.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) February 11, 2016
The editor of "The Independent" is going back to calling themselves "The Dominion status"— Ashok (@krishashok) February 11, 2016
The editor of The Independent will switch back to using Google Reader instead of Feedly— Malika Rodrigues (@ruderigues) February 11, 2016
The Independent - a London newspaper - takes a 'strong' stance on an Indian city's name.
From 4500 miles away.
Er... OK, Londinium.— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) February 11, 2016