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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.

Kazan Summit: BRICS Nations to Push For A Multipolar World

Kazan Summit: BRICS Nations to Push For A Multipolar World

Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will meet in Kazan, Russia, next week for the 16th BRICS summit, marking a pivotal moment for the bloc. With an expanded roster of members and heightened global interest, the summit is expected to focus on strengthening ties among emerging economies and pushing back against Western-dominated financial and security systems.


Scheduled from October 22 to 24, the summit will engage country leaders in discussions aimed at addressing key international issues. This year's gathering is particularly significant as it follows the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE into BRICS earlier this year, marking the first summit of the newly expanded group.


Russia, which holds the BRICS presidency, has invited over two dozen other nations expressing interest in joining the bloc, making it the first “BRICS+” summit. Countries such as Turkey, Algeria, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh have either applied or shown interest in joining BRICS, attracted by the prospect of benefiting from stronger trade ties and a collective effort to counterbalance the influence of the U.S. and its allies.


The BRICS bloc currently accounts for 45% of the world’s population and 28% of the global economy. Its influence extends to nearly half of the world’s crude oil production, positioning it as a critical force in shaping the future of global energy markets. These factors have made BRICS increasingly appealing to other countries looking to enhance their strategic autonomy and gain a larger voice in international affairs.

The bloc’s economic agenda has gained momentum in recent years, particularly in the area of intra-BRICS trade. In a statement from the June 2024 BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, member countries emphasized the increased use of local currencies in trade and financial transactions within the group. From 2017 to 2022, intra-BRICS trade surged by 56%, and the trend accelerated further following Western sanctions on Russia. A report by the Boston Consulting Group noted that trade between BRICS nations has now outpaced their trade with the G7, leading to deeper economic integration among BRICS members.


As BRICS members strengthen their economic ties, they are also working to reduce their reliance on the U.S. dollar. The dollar’s dominance as a global reserve currency has long given Washington significant leverage over the international financial system, particularly through sanctions and export controls. Countries affected by U.S. sanctions, including BRICS leaders Russia and China and new members such as Iran, see reducing the dollar’s influence as essential for protecting their economies from external pressures.


Moreover, many countries view BRICS membership as an opportunity to enhance their representation on the global stage. With the United Nations and other multilateral institutions often criticized for being outdated and ineffective, BRICS provides a platform for emerging economies to push for reforms and greater inclusion in international decision-making.


The timing of this year’s summit is critical. As the United States grapples with challenges to its global leadership, BRICS is positioning itself as an importantplayer in shaping a multipolar world. This shift is expected to have profound implications for international peace, security, and the distribution of global power.


The 2024 BRICS summit will likely be seen as a defining moment for the group and for global politics. As BRICS seeks to assert its influence on the world stage, its growing economic and political clout is reshaping the international order, challenging the long-standing dominance of Western powers. While the road ahead is fraught with challenges, the summit in Kazan marks a significant step toward a more multipolar world, where emerging economies are determined to play a larger role in shaping global governance.


(The author is a senior journalist based in Islamabad. Views personal.)

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