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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.

From RTO officer to Rocket Science

Sujata Madke quits lucrative job to join ISRO

Thane: In a groundbreaking achievement, Sujata Ramchandra Madke, a farmer’s daughter from the small village of Shirgaon in Shahapur taluka, has become the first woman from Thane district to be appointed as a Scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bengaluru. What makes her story even more inspiring is that she voluntarily resigned from a secured government job as an Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector at the Thane RTO to pursue her dream of contributing to India’s space program.

 

Sujata joined ISRO on May 27 as a Gazetted Scientist, marking a proud moment not just for her family but also for her district. Her journey from a humble village school to India’s premier space agency stands as a testament to perseverance, determination, and the power of dreams.

 

Born in the remote village of Shirgaon, located 15 kilometers from Shahapur in Thane district, Sujata received her early education at the local Zilla Parishad school the same school her father and grandfather attended. Her father, Ramchandra Madke, a former clerk at the Thane Zilla Parishad and part-time farmer, ensured that all four of his children received higher education despite limited resources.

 

Sujata’s academic excellence began early. She secured 94.91 per cent in her SSC board exams and 77.50 per cent in her HSC. She went on to complete her B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, Raigad. Later, she worked as a Research Engineer in the Ministry of Education’s Virtual Lab Project (Phase III) at IIT Kharagpur and was also selected as an Assistant Engineer at MAHAGENCO.

 

She cleared the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examination and joined the Thane RTO as an Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector. However, her passion for space research never faded. While working full-time at the RTO, she continued her studies late into the night, preparing rigorously for ISRO’s recruitment process. Her family still preserves the two sacks of books she used during her preparation a symbol of her relentless dedication.

 

Kalam, the inspiration

While Speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice’, Sujata said, “Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam always said, ‘Dream big, and work hard to make those dreams come true.’ His words inspired me to never settle. Leaving a stable government job was not easy, but I had to follow my calling.”

 

Her father Ramchandra Madke expressed immense pride “She was the first in our family to step outside Maharashtra for education. Watching her serve the nation through science is the proudest moment of my life.” Her mother, Savita Madke, recalled Sujata’s childhood passion for painting and science, saying, “She used to say she wanted to be a scientist when she was just a little girl. Today that dream has come true.”

 

Sujata’s elder sister Chetna Sonawane added, “She would study for 8 to 12 hours every day. Among the four siblings, Sujata was always the most focused and determined.”

 

Before being selected by ISRO, Sujata had also made it to the interview rounds of top Indian institutions such as DRDO and BARC. Her recent appointment as an ISRO scientist is not only a personal milestone but also a landmark for young women across rural Maharashtra who dream of a career in science and technology.

 

Her hardworking parents and elder sisters were her source of inspiration during this journey. While working at RTO Thane all officers of RTO motivated her for study and RTO Hemangini Patil lso supported her for studies in office.

 

Her story is a shining example of how grit, family support, and an unyielding dream can take a girl from a remote village to the stars quite literally.

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