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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.

Rain: Soul-Stirring and Earth-Renewing

Rain arrives as a paradoxical adventure—calm yet chaotic, beautiful yet messy, bringing both joy and discomfort. It comes to end the drought, restore hope, and begin healing.

After the dry, scorching summer, the long-awaited monsoon arrives in full force. The very first shower brings relief, joy, and rejuvenation, refreshing both body and spirit.


As the raindrops touch the parched land, the fragrance of wet mud rises, awakening child-like excitement. What a beautiful, fragrant perfume surfacing from Mother Earth, which comforts everyone.


The sight of raindrops falling down the window, the rhythmic patter of rain on rooftops, rippling puddles, occasional rolling, noisy thunder, and flashy lightning painting the sky heightens the thrill of the season. The brown, dry landscape turns into a vibrant green. Umbrellas are all over the street, blooming like flowers. The sight is truly breathtaking!


The world outside is soaked, drenched, and shivering, but inside, there is warmth in a thick blanket, dim lights turning nostalgic for childhood days. Days we spent playing in the rain, splashing muddy water, sailing paper boats in little streams, moments spent with family on a veranda, steaming food cooked by Mom, power cuts, candlelight dinners, all sitting together during torrential rain, all back then symbolically reflecting togetherness and joy. The rain stirs up deep emotions, sometimes turning solitude into peace rather than loneliness.


Monsoon is incomplete without special savouryflavours like a steaming cup of tea, crispy pakoras, hot bhutta (roasted corn), spicy samosas, and more. Every bite seems tastier when enjoyed with a view of rainfall. Alongside soulful conversations with family and loved ones, it reminds us that the monsoon is not just about showers, but it is about togetherness. It brings back memories of childhood, a sense of freedom and joy, a time when life was simpler and carefree.


Nature celebrates with lush greenery, rivers swelling, trees dancing to the breeze, and the sky with an ever-changing mood. Everything comes alive, reminding us of the power and beauty of nature. It invites us to feel deeply and find beauty in every little thing.


Though sometimes chaotic with incessant rain leading to waterlogged roads, power cuts, flash floods, landslides, and traffic disruptions, the monsoon is never dull. It leads to a slower pace of life and more time spent indoors, but teaches us to appreciate simpler pleasures. It is an adventure – a blend of calm and chaos, beauty and mess, joy and discomfort. It reflects life's essential truth that after every drought, there is rain, so there is hope after every crisis. After every struggle, there is healing.


As Mother Earth takes time to be nourished and bloom again, we too need time to grow, bloom, and shine.


In essence, monsoon subtly demands us to slow down and break the maddening cycle of busy life, not by force but by nature's gentle reminder to take a pause, to take a moment, and to remember that life is not only about rushing – it is about savouring.


When our mind slows down, the body heals, and the soul feels alive – all three acts in synchronisation. It is not just a weather change but an invitation to realign with yourself, find joy in the present, and begin again with fresh hopes.


Let this monsoon not just touch and drench the depth of the earth but touch and awaken the depth of the heart and soul. May it embrace us with mindfulness, warmth, compassion, and gratitude, bringing life within us and making us richer in beautiful, soulful memories. Make it an annual celebration of nature, its power, beauty, and rhythm, creating mesmerising memories soaked in wonder.Have a wonderful, exhilarating experience this monsoon!


(The writer is an educator based in Thane.)

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