Mumbai’s New Name January 17th, 2009

The city popularly known as Bombay is now known as Mumbai. While this change was declared back in 1996, it has taken a decade for the rest of the world, especially western media outlets, to catch up. Name aside, Mumbai remains one of the most exciting and inviting cities in India. Visitors to the city are intrigued by its unique blend of modern and traditional cultures and architecture — the colonial palaces and modern office buildings, the traditional bazaars and urban malls, the street food and the fine Indian dining restaurants. Check out the five star hotels in Mumbai, the variety of nightclubs and bars, as well as the restaurants and shopping options to get a feel for the range of experiences that India’s second largest city has to offer.

The switch from Bombay to Mumbai is part of a reorganization that began with Indian independence back in 1947. During the latter half of the twentieth century, India worked to bring all the colonial territories and cities into a modern union of states. Some of the states and most of the major cities were renamed as part of this reorganization. In many cases, the names were changed to reflect the native languages and cultures of the region rather than colonial influences.

The name “Bombay” originated with the Portuguese during the 17th century. In Portuguese, “Bombaim” translates to “Good Bay.” When the city switched hands to the British in 1661, the name was anglicized to Bombay. That name survived for over three hundred years.

In 1996, the Indian government renamed the city. As the capital of the state of Maharashtra, they felt it the name should reflect the Hindu population rather than the European colonial rulers. Mumbai is reported to be the name of a Kolis settlement in the area. Kolis named their communities after Hindu deities and Mumbai is named for the goddess Mumbadevi. It took some time for this name change to catch on in the western world. It wasn’t until 2006 that the Associated Press announced it would begin using the name Mumbai, paving the way for other global news agencies and media to follow suit.

Related posts:

1. Records of Bollywood in Mumbai
2. Visiting Chennai
3. Goa: Vacation Paradise
4. Airlines Adding New Delhi Flights
5. First Class to India

• Posted by Cliff
• Tagged Travel