What Mumbaikars think about renaming iconic places, buildings, railway stations

Mumbai a bustling metropolis known for its rich history and cultural diversity has witnessed the renaming of several iconic places buildings and railway stations in recent years The renaming of places such as Victoria Terminus to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Elphinstone Road to Prabhadevi and Marine Lines Station to Mumbadevi has sparked mixed reactions among Mumbaikars Another iconic structure in Delhi the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library NMML has officially been renamed as the Prime Ministersrsquo Museum and Library PMML SocietyWhile some see it as a step toward reclaiming the heritage and honouring local icons others feel it disrupts the cityrsquos identity or creates confusionA matter of pride and heritageFor many changing the names of locations to represent local history and culture serves as a tribute to Marathi icons and traditions Suresh Phalke a Dadar resident voiced his support ldquoItrsquos not just about changing names itrsquos about reclaiming our heritage Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great warrior and naming one of the busiest railway stations in his honor is a matter of pride for all of MaharashtrardquoSupporters of renaming believe that this is part of the broader effort to decolonise spaces that still bear the remnants of British colonial rule ldquoVictoria Terminus reflected a colonial past but renaming it to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus reflects the spirit of Maharashtrarsquos historyrdquo said Radhika Mehshram a college student ldquoItrsquos a statement of our identityrdquoNostalgia and the cityrsquos legacyHowever not everyone feels the same way There is a deep sense of nostalgia associated with the older names Many Mumbaikars feel that the cityrsquos charm and legacy lie in the historical significance of its original names Rahul Jain a businessman from South Mumbai expressed his concern ldquoThese names have been part of our lives for decades We grew up knowing Victoria Terminus and Elphinstone Road Changing them erases part of our historyrdquoSome also feel that renaming iconic places can create confusion particularly for people who have known these landmarks by their old names for many years ldquoItrsquos difficult for older generations to adaptrdquo said Shanta Iyer a Matunga resident Iyer said that she still prefers to call it VT ldquoeven though it has officially been renamed CSMT For us the old names carry memories and significancerdquoEconomic and practical considerationsBeyond sentiment the renaming of places comes with logistical challenges and economic implications Businesses and local authorities need to update signages official documents and maps which adds to costs Vijay Patankar a shop owner in Prabhadevi shared his concerns ldquoThe renaming of Elphinstone Road to Prabhadevi was a good move culturally but it caused a lot of confusion for months I had to update all my business records and people were confused about the stationrsquos new namerdquoA political moveFor some Mumbaikars the renaming of places is seen as a political move with parties vying to cement their influence by associating their icons with prominent landmarks Suman M an IT professional from Girgaon remarked ldquoTherersquos a political angle to all this Itrsquos about which party can claim credit for naming something after their hero Itrsquos less about the city and more about the politics behind itrdquoWhat do political leaders have to sayMaharashtra Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe slammed the Maharashtra and Central governments saying that both governments only focus on emotional politics rather than economic developmentldquoThis government prioritises emotional politics over economic development This approach does not lead to infrastructural growth or development making the renaming of iconic places buildings and stations pointless It will not yield political success What people want is genuine development The BJP lacks a clear vision on how to take a global city like Mumbai forwardrdquo Londhe told MidDayWhile speaking to MidDay Shiv Sena Secretary and Spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar criticised the people for questioning the renaming of iconic places and stationsPawaskar said that he fails to understand why the decision to rename iconic places and stations is a cause for concern ldquoCitizens should take pride in this decision instead of questioning it Take for example the renaming of Elphinstone Road Station which was originally named by the British to Prabhadevimdashnow people can better relate to the name The countryrsquos situation was difficult but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed Indiarsquos image globally Names matter because they reflect our identityrdquo Pawaskar saidHe further said that another example is the renaming of Sandhurst Road Station previously named after a British official Lord Sandhurst to Dongri which resonates more with the cityrsquos heritage ldquoIndia has made significant progress in every field since the Britishers left So why should our stations or iconic places still bear their names The next generation should understand why these names were changed so they can feel more connected to the roots of our nation Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray often spoke about this need for changerdquo he saidldquoI fail to understand why are people opposing this decision Those who are opposing this decision should reflect on whether they truly care about their country and Mumbai Those who do will agree that places should be named after those who built this nation and state We cannot have every place named after Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhirdquo Pawaskar addedBalancing tradition and progressIn a city as dynamic and evolving as Mumbai balancing tradition with progress is a challenge While many support the renaming of places as a way to reflect the statersquos culture and legacy others feel itrsquos unnecessary and creates confusion in the daily lives of citizensUltimately what resonates most with Mumbaikars is the deep connection they have with their cityrsquos historymdashwhether that history is reflected in its old names or its new ones Mumbai after all is a city of contrasts where the old and the new coexist and its people continue to adapt and evolve just like the names of its iconic places