Why the railway signs in Bombay changed from Gujarati to Marathi, and why it’s now Mumbai

Have you wondered whether the city is “Bombay” or “Mumbai”? Here’s the violent, xenophobic history behind the change. I was rewatching a Bollywood movie shot in Bombay in the 80s. In this scene, the two protagonists are at the train station waiting to go home. Notice the sign behind them. It says “Marine Lines”, whichContinue reading “Why the railway signs in Bombay changed from Gujarati to Marathi, and why it’s now Mumbai”

Moral dilemma when trying to help street children in Mumbai

In Mumbai, you experience a lot of poverty everywhere. It’s a very hard place where we have to confront our darkest and most difficult truths. Most traffic lights have panhandlers who walk around asking for money. The ones who stand out are the women with babies in their arms. You feel terrible for the childrenContinue reading “Moral dilemma when trying to help street children in Mumbai”

A peek view of the Bandra Worli Sea Link

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It has a total length of 5.6 km (3.5 miles). In this pic you see the largest pylon towers which are 128 m (420 ft) high.Continue reading “A peek view of the Bandra Worli Sea Link”

Arundhati Roy’s response on the Mumbai Terror attacks

Arundhati Roy makes very interesting points through a view at the larger context of the history and incidents in the Indian subcontinent. Some interesting excerpts: If you were watching television you may not have heard that ordinary people too died in Mumbai. They were mowed down in a busy railway station and a public hospital.Continue reading “Arundhati Roy’s response on the Mumbai Terror attacks”