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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.

Madhya Pradesh's Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary welcomes African cheetahs as new home in India’s big cat comeback

  • PTI
  • Apr 19, 2025
  • 2 min read


BHOPAL: More than two and a half years after Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district became the first Indian home to African cheetahs, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS) in Mandsaur district is set to become their second home.


On April 20, two adult cheetahs from KNP—likely the South African male coalition named Prabhas and Pavak—will be relocated to GSWS.


The announcement was made during a meeting held in Bhopal on Friday to review the progress of the Cheetah Project in Madhya Pradesh. Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav were among those present.


Since last summer, GSWS has been preparing for the arrival of cheetahs by developing suitable infrastructure. It now has three large enclosures covering a total area of 64 sq km. “The first arrivals, the South African male coalition from KNP, will be kept together in one large enclosure,” an official from the sanctuary told this newspaper.


According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, over ₹112 crore has been spent so far on the Cheetah Project, with Madhya Pradesh receiving 67% of that funding.


The two male cheetahs will be moved around 300 km from KNP to GSWS on Sunday. More cheetahs will be added in phases, including some from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya. Four cheetahs are expected from Botswana by May, followed by another batch. Talks with Kenya are also underway for translocation.


An official shared that since GSWS borders Rajasthan, both states will jointly set up an inter-state cheetah conservation complex.


During the meeting, the Chief Minister announced plans to improve tourism at KNP by enhancing road and air links from Gwalior. He said a paved, all-weather road will be built from Gwalior to KNP and a tent city will be set up for tourists in the forest.


Highlighting that MP's cheetah cubs have the world’s highest survival rate, the CM said the GSWS provides a suitable environment for the species.


The meeting also discussed setting up a modern veterinary hospital and rescue center at Kuno with central support. This facility will not only help the cheetahs but also serve cattle in the surrounding areas.


The state also aims to promote nature-based tourism by involving more youth and women. Women’s self-help groups and local volunteers known as ‘Cheetah Mitras’ will be trained as tourist guides.


Currently, Kuno National Park is home to 26 cheetahs, including adults and cubs—17 living in the wild and nine inside enclosures.


In September 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to KNP under India’s ambitious plan to reintroduce the species, which had gone extinct from Indian forests over 70 years ago due to excessive hunting.

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