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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.

Fitoor: A Stage Beyond Words

At St. Xavier’s, Fitoor is making theatre vital again, bringing method, meaning and madness to campus theatre.

Theatre is a celebration of storytelling and human connection. It is where imagination meets reality, and where emotions are brought to life. Fitoor, the Theatre Society of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, stands as a testament to the will to bring dreams to the stage, to breathe life into stories. It is a haven for the passionate artistic souls who desire to reside in the timeless fabric of theatre. With the unending thirst to create, present and impress, at Fitoor, we aspire to create a platform for stories untold and to tread the well-trodden roads with novel perspectives.


In a nod to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Fitoor is driven by its theme for the year 2025-26, ‘The Method to Madness,’ emphasizing the idea that there always exists a purpose behind expression, where impassioned actions are backed by rational motives.


Fitoor calls to showcase our truest, most expressive selves in witty and creative ways, embodying the spirit to do the unexpected, and to be, what has never before been. Geoffrey Nadar, Head of Fitoor 2025-26, describes Fitoor as “a driving force for the celebration and advancement of theatre; inviting new members to what is otherwise an underappreciated art form.”


We wish to present a stage for those who harbour this passion, regardless of experience. For those wishing to dip their toes into this art for the very first time, Fitoor is presenting ‘The Theatre Academy’ - a platform to learn and grow in the arms of theatre. For those already skilled in the art form, we wish to aid in their plunge into the professional sphere, through participation in various reputed youth festivals, such as ‘Thespo,’ India’s largest Youth Theatre Movement.


Theatre is one of the time-tested means to convey, and at Fitoor, we aim to utilise the persuasive nature of theatre to create change. Within the walls of our college, through various experimental forms of theatre such as ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’, we wish to enlighten students to the grievances of society and inspire them to take action through plays that highlight persisting social ills. In the world outside, we aspire to surpass the limits set on theatre by extending the art to communities that have been neglected “Khwahishon ke Parindey,” the acting workshop conducted in collaboration with ‘Access Life Foundation, Chembur’ marks the beginning of many such endeavours to create ripples of change that transform into lasting waves.


As the only theatre fest in Xavier’s with no language barriers, Fitoor emphasises the transcendence of art over linguistic constraints. What started as a small initiative, comprising a group of students who put out small skits and presented a platform for people to learn theatre—essentially serving as a stepping stone to the established departments of St. Xavier’s College–has grown multifold over the years. Fitoor's flagship event, ‘Jashn-E-Fitoor,’ has been a medium for the exploration of numerous genres–from swoon-worthy love stories, to murder mysteries that keep you captivated—as well as showcasing social and political issues in ways that resonate with the audiences and leave them contemplating.


Through our growth, we retain our purpose–to build a theatre culture in St. Xavier’s College which caters to people of different skill levels, an objective which is reflected in our events and workshops where we had the privilege of welcoming well-known names in the industry, such as Apoorva Mukhija, Dolly Singh, Raghav Juyal and Nikhil Taneja for Yuvaa Podcast-Be A Man Yaar, Vir Das and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, among many others.


We aspire to make Fitoor, the Theatre Society of Mumbai, as we grow beyond the Xavier’s campus. The collaboration of Fitoor’s ‘Karwaan’ and the ‘Poets of Mumbai,’ as well as upcoming collaborations with colleges and artistic organisations, are the first of many steps that will lead to expanding the boundaries of what Fitoor can achieve. There is also a focus on returning to our roots as we expand the society into a community of theatre enthusiasts.


As a primarily student-run organization, Fitoor has been through a roller coaster of phases over the years by showcasing the dynamic visions of the students. Each year has been marked by an extraordinary display of exuberance and creativity, knitting together the voraciously unique concepts. Across our journey, one purpose remains constant which is the desire to leave a lasting impression on all who experience the magic that theatre has to offer.

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