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BJP Veteran Ram Naik Slams Minister Over Bombay Remark, Demands Apology

BJP veteran Ram Naik has strongly criticized Union Minister Jitendra Singh for his remarks about keeping "Bombay" in IIT's name. The former Uttar Pradesh governor has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statement to prevent unnecessary controversy. Naik, who played a crucial role in officially changing the city's name from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995, argues that such name changes restore original identities tied to local sentiment. He has urged the minister to take the lead in amending the law to change IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai.

Key Points: Ram Naik Criticises Jitendra Singh Over Bombay Mumbai Name Row

  • Ram Naik wrote two-page letter demanding immediate withdrawal of controversial statement
  • Veteran leader played key role in 1995 name change from Bombay to Mumbai
  • Naik suggests amending law to rename IIT Bombay as IIT Mumbai
  • Name changes restore original identities tied to local sentiment and heritage
2 min read

BJP veteran Ram Naik criticises Jitendra Singh over 'Bombay' remark, seeks immediate withdrawal

BJP veteran Ram Naik demands withdrawal of Jitendra Singh's 'Bombay' remark, urges changing IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai to preserve city's identity and glory.

"Mumbai has been the ancient name of this city, visible in the term 'Mumbadevi', and in all languages it should be 'Mumbai' - Ram Naik"

Mumbai, Nov 27

Former Uttar Pradesh Governor and veteran BJP leader Ram Naik on Thursday criticised Union Minister Jitendra Singh for his statement that "it is good that Bombay in the name of IIT was kept as it is and not changed to Mumbai".

In a two-page letter, he urged the minister to immediately withdraw his statement to stop the unnecessary controversy over Bombay vs Mumbai and to preserve Mumbai's glory.

Naik suggested that Dr. Singh should take the lead to amend the relevant law and change the name of the institution from 'IIT Bombay' to 'IIT Mumbai'. He said he is intervening in this row solely for the sake of his workplace, 'Mumbai,' and expects Dr. Singh to issue an appropriate statement soon.

"I would certainly propose that by amending the relevant law, the name 'Bombay' be replaced with 'Mumbai'. I believe that even while in opposition, everyone will support this from a positive perspective," he added. Naik narrated his persistent efforts over six years (culminating in an ordinance on December 15, 1995) to officially change the name from 'Bombay' (and 'Bambai') to 'Mumbai' in all languages.

He stated that he is the only MP elected continuously five times from Mumbai and played a crucial role in preserving Maharashtra's identity. He also mentioned later issuing a modified order in 1999 to ensure the word was written as 'Mumbai' in all languages. Naik argued that these name changes -- like Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya -- are not mere changes but the restoration of original names tied to local identity and sentiment. He noted that 'Mumbai' is derived from the ancient deity Mumbadevi.

Naik said that some individuals deliberately use incorrect names, which he considers fundamentally wrong. He emphasized that restoring the original name enhances the identity and emotions connected to that region, and there is no linguistic contradiction in special names.

"Mumbai has been the ancient name of this city, visible in the term 'Mumbadevi', and in all languages it should be 'Mumbai' -- not 'Bombay' or 'Bambai'," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Naik said that the opposition should not take advantage of Dr. Singh's statement to extract political mileage, saying that because of his consistent efforts the change from Bombay to Mumbai created history.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I understand the sentiment, but honestly, does it really matter? Both names are widely recognized globally. The focus should be on the institution's quality, not its name. 🤔
S
Sarah B
As someone who studied at IIT Bombay, the name has brand value internationally. Changing it might create confusion for alumni and global academia. Sometimes tradition has its place.
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Arjun K
Mumbai naam se hi dil ko sukoon milta hai! Colonial hangover chhod do yaar. Ram Naik ji ne sahi kaha - original names restore our cultural pride. Jai Maharashtra! 🙏
M
Michael C
While I respect the cultural significance, I think Minister Singh has a point about maintaining institutional branding. Many prestigious institutions worldwide retain their historical names without losing identity.
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Kavya N
Mumbaikar here! We've been calling it Mumbai for decades now. It's high time all official institutions reflect this change. Proud of our Mumbadevi heritage! 💪
V
Vikram M
This debate feels unnecessary when there are bigger issues to address. But if we're discussing names, then yes - Mumbai it should be. Colonial baggage should go!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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