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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city...

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city will get a ‘Hindu Marathi’ person to head India’s richest civic body, while the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also harbour fond hopes of a miracle that could ensure their own person for the post. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) optimism stems from expectations of possible political permutations-combinations that could develop with a realignment of forces as the Supreme Court is hearing the cases involving the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party this week. Catapulted as the largest single party, the BJP hopes to install a first ever party-man as Mayor, but that may not create history. Way back in 1982-1983, a BJP leader Dr. Prabhakar Pai had served in the top post in Mumbai (then Bombay). Incidentally, Dr. Pai hailed from Udupi district of Karnataka, and his appointment came barely a couple of years after the BJP was formed (1980), capping a distinguished career as a city father, said experts. Originally a Congressman, Dr. Pai later shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party, then back to Congress briefly, founded the Janata Seva Sangh before immersing himself in social activities. Second Administrator The 2026 Mayoral elections have evoked huge interest not only among Mumbaikars but across the country as it comes after nearly four years since the BMC was governed by an Administrator. This was only the second time in the BMC history that an Administrator was named after April 1984-May 1985. On both occasions, there were election-related issues, the first time the elections got delayed for certain reasons and the second time the polling was put off owing to Ward delimitations and OBC quotas as the matter was pending in the courts. From 1931 till 2022, Mumbai has been lorded over by 76 Mayors, men and women, hailing from various regions, backgrounds, castes and communities. They included Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, even a Jew, etc., truly reflecting the cosmopolitan personality of the coastal city and India’s financial powerhouse. In 1931-1932, the Mayor was a Parsi, J. B. Boman Behram, and others from his community followed like Khurshed Framji Nariman (after whom Nariman Point is named), E. A. Bandukwala, Minoo Masani, B. N. Karanjia and other bigwigs. There were Muslims like Hoosenally Rahimtoola, Sultan M. Chinoy, the legendary Yusuf Meherally, Dr. A. U. Memon and others. The Christian community got a fair share of Mayors with Joseph A. D’Souza – who was Member of Constituent Assembly representing Bombay Province for writing-approving the Constitution of India, M. U. Mascarenhas, P. A. Dias, Simon C. Fernandes, J. Leon D’Souza, et al. A Jew Elijah Moses (1937-1938) and a Sikh M. H. Bedi (1983-1984), served as Mayors, but post-1985, for the past 40 years, nobody from any minority community occupied the august post. During the silver jubilee year of the post, Sulochana M. Modi became the first woman Mayor of Mumbai (1956), and later with tweaks in the rules, many women ruled in this post – Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar (1994-1995), Vishakha Raut (997-1998), Dr. Shubha Raul (March 2007-Nov. 2009), Shraddha Jadhav (Dec. 2009-March 2012), Snehal Ambedkar (Sep. 2014-March 2017). The last incumbent (before the Administrator) was a government nurse, Kishori Pednekar (Nov. 2019-March 2022) - who earned the sobriquet of ‘Florence Nightingale’ of Mumbai - as she flitted around in her full white uniform at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, earning the admiration of the citizens. Mumbai Mayor – high-profile post The Mumbai Mayor’s post is considered a crucial step in the political ladder and many went on to become MLAs, MPs, state-central ministers, a Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Ministers and union ministers. The formidable S. K. Patil was Mayor (1949-1952) and later served in the union cabinets of PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Lah Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi; Dahyabhai V. Patel (1954-1955) was the son of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Manohar Joshi (1976-1977) became the CM of Maharashtra, later union minister and Speaker of Lok Sabha; Chhagan Bhujbal (1985-1986 – 1990-1991) became a Deputy CM.

Ayurveda 2.0: The Next Frontier of Skincare

The modern consumer wants clean, multi-functional skincare that delivers both performance and purpose.

As the global beauty industry shifts towards clean, sustainable, and ethical products, India’s ancient wellness system – Ayurveda – is staging a quiet revolution. Once confined to traditional herbal remedies, Ayurveda is now poised to transform the booming world of skincare products by offering a compelling blend of beauty and therapeutic wellness.


This World Ayurveda Day, it's time to recognise the new frontier: Ayurveda 2.0—where skincare and personal care meet wellness, naturally.


Conscious Skincare

Millennials and Gen Z are redefining beauty standards. No longer content with chemically loaded, synthetic-laden products, they’re seeking clean, cruelty-free, and multi-functional solutions. This has created a massive opportunity for Ayurvedic brands to offer innovative skincare and personal products.


Ayurveda seamlessly aligns with this new-age demand. Unlike conventional skincare, which often prioritises quick fixes over long-term health, Ayurvedic formulations offer therapeutic value with every application. They work with the skin's natural biology to promote balance and health from within.


The line between skincare and overall wellness is blurring. Consumers no longer want "just" a cream or serum, but they want hybrid solutions that offer performance with purpose. This is where Ayurveda truly shines.


Ayurvedic brands are already innovating with UV-protective face creams that hydrate and shield. Shampoos that tackle dandruff while enhancing shine, as well as shower gels infused with potent herbs for skin health, are also entering the market. These are not just a trend, but they're the future. The global market is paying close attention to these effective and holistic solutions.


Ayurvedic Skincare

Ayurvedic solutions are crucial for long-term skin health because they focus on treating the root cause of skin issues, rather than just the symptoms. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals that can provide temporary results, Ayurvedic principles use natural ingredients to nourish and restore balance.


This approach acknowledges that skin health is intrinsically linked to internal well-being and environmental factors. For example, instead of drying out acne with harsh treatments, Ayurveda uses herbs like neem or turmeric to purify the blood and reduce inflammation. This holistic approach leads to clearer, healthier skin over time.


By promoting harmony within the body, Ayurvedic skincare helps the skin maintain its own health, making it more resilient and radiant over time.


The issues

While Ayurveda enjoys immense trust for its safety and holistic benefits, it faces a few hurdles before it can fully claim its place in the global skincare arena.


One of the biggest issues is standardisation. The potency of herbs and botanicals can vary by season, soil quality, and geography, making consistency a real challenge. Natural ingredients can also be prone to microbial growth and have shorter shelf lives.


These are not flaws, but they’re features of truly natural products. Still, consumers conditioned by the flawless aesthetics of synthetic cosmetics may take time to adapt.


Plant-based, water-rich, or oil-based formulations are prone to microbial growth without strong preservatives. Limited use of synthetic stabilisers leads to a shorter shelf life compared to conventional cosmetics.


Yet, as industry experts point out, these challenges are not insurmountable; they’re invitations for scientific innovation. The next phase of Ayurvedic beauty must blend tradition with modern R&D to ensure efficacy, safety, and stability without compromising authenticity.


The Ayurvedic personal care space is becoming increasingly crowded. Many brands loosely incorporate “Ayurvedic” elements as a marketing strategy, adding a dash of turmeric or a hint of sandalwood without genuine formulation expertise. This is both a risk and a remarkable opportunity.


As the category matures, brands with deep Ayurvedic legacies, proven expertise, and research-backed formulations will stand out. The demand for authentic, holistic, and effective Ayurvedic brands will be on the rise.


In conclusion

Ayurveda is not just a system of healing; it’s a philosophy of living in harmony with nature. In a world grappling with climate change, chemical overload, and rising skin sensitivities, this philosophy is more relevant than ever.


The future of Ayurveda in skincare isn’t about replacing modern products; it’s about enhancing them. With the right investments in science, safety, and storytelling, Ayurveda is uniquely positioned to lead the global wellness beauty movement, not as a trend, but as a timeless tradition reimagined for today. On this World Ayurveda Day, let’s celebrate not just what Ayurveda was but what it is becoming.


(The writer is the co-founder and managing director of RESHMONA Pharmaceuticals. Views personal.)

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