Do Indians still call it Bombay?

The Linguistic footprint: Do Indians still call it Bombay?

The anatomy of a name change

To understand why the dual usage survives, one must revisit the geopolitical climate of the mid-1990s. In 1995, the state government, spearheaded by regional political movements, officially changed the city's English designation to Mumbai. This change was rooted in reclaiming indigenous heritage, drawing from Mumbadevi, the patron Hindu goddess of the local Koli fishing community, coupled with Aai, the Marathi word for mother.

The previous designation, Bombay, was viewed by proponents of the change as a lingering relic of the British Empire, or, more accurately, an anglicized corruption of the Portuguese Bom Bahia, meaning "good bay." By purging the colonial footprint, the state sought to align the city's global title with its native Marathi pronunciation, mirroring similar transitions for Madras (Chennai) and Calcutta (Kolkata).

Generations, Class, and context

Despite the official decree, language use in the city is rarely monolithic. Today, the choice between Bombay and Mumbai often depends on generational lines, socioeconomic context, and the language being spoken:

• The Generational Divide: Older residents who grew up navigating the city's mid-20th-century landscapes frequently default to Bombay out of lifelong habit. Conversely, younger generations born after the transition know the city exclusively as Mumbai.

• The Linguistic Switch: It is common for multilingual Indians to fluidly switch terms based on context. When speaking Marathi or Hindi, locals naturally use Mumbai or Bambai. However, when conversing in English, many native residents switch back to Bombay with ease.

• Institutional Stubbornness: Paradoxically, several monumental institutions established during the colonial era have kept the legacy name. Landmarks like the Bombay High Court, the Bombay Stock Exchange, and premier academic entities like IIT Bombay retain their historical titles, protected by tradition or the complex parliamentary legislation required to alter them.

"Language is never just a label; it is an archive of memory, culture, and personal history. For many, Bombay represents a specific vintage soul of the city, while Mumbai signifies its dynamic, forward-marching modern identity."

The survival of Bombay alongside Mumbai highlights a vibrant cultural tolerance for coexistence. Rather than erasing the past, the city has woven both names into a rich, complex identity where yesterday and today live side by side.

The lingering legacy of Bombay in modern India

The transition of India’s financial powerhouse from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995 was more than just a cartographic update; it was a profound socio-political statement aimed at shedding the remnants of British colonial nomenclature. Yet, decades after municipal signboards, official documents, and international maps were redrawn, the question persists: Do Indians still call it Bombay?

The reality on the ground is a fascinating study in linguistic habits, cultural identity, and generational divides. While the government-mandated shift to Mumbai is universally recognized, the old name refuses to fade into total obscurity.

Generational habits and social strata

For many older residents who grew up navigating the bustling streets, iconic local trains, and art deco architecture of the mid-20th century, "Bombay" is not a political stance, it is simply the name of their youth.

• The Senior Perspective: Grandparents and legacy families often default to Bombay out of pure muscle memory. To them, the city's soul was forged under that moniker.

• The Youth Adoption: Conversely, younger generations, especially those born after 1995, grow up saying Mumbai. For them, "Mumbai" is the indisputable present, while "Bombay" sounds historical, cinematic, or stylized.

• Class Nuances: Interestingly, elite social circles and expatriates sometimes lean toward Bombay as a stylistic choice, viewing it through a lens of vintage cosmopolitanism, whereas locals navigating daily municipal life use Mumbai or its regional equivalents natively.

Institutional Stubbornness and global branding

Another fascinating layer to this naming duality is how major institutions handled the transition. While cities could be renamed overnight via political decree, altering deeply entrenched institutional titles required complex legislative action.

• The Bombay High Court and the historic Bombay Stock Exchange proudly retain their original titles due to the sheer logistical weight and heritage value associated with these names.

• Bollywood: Perhaps the most globally recognized cultural export, the Hindi film industry, firmly rejected the moniker "Mollywood" or "Mumblywood." "Bollywood" remains a global titan, cementing the word Bombay into the worldwide lexicon of cinema.

The choice between Bombay and Mumbai depends entirely on context, age, and personal resonance. While Mumbai rules the official paperwork and modern identity, Bombay lives on as a nostalgic heartbeat, proving that a city's true name is often written as much in the hearts of its people as it is on government gazettes.

Shashi Tharoor Explains Why India Renamed Cities Like Bombay

This video provides additional context on the historical and political motivations behind changing names like Bombay to Mumbai.