'Bombay Scottish can stay, but hookah parlours can not'

After the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena began to demand that nameplates be written in Devnagari script, the Shiv Sena, not to be left behind, renewed its demand for usage of the name Mumbai in various titles.

Sainiks told officials of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum to replace Bombay with Mumbai in ‘Governor of Bombay’ and ‘Bombay School of Art’.

But when it comes to Bombay Scottish, the school where the Sena executive president’s children studied, Mayor Shubha Raul strikes a pragmatic note in an interview with DNA Correspondent Neeta Kolhatkar. There is no need to rename the school officially, she says

What do the names Bombay and Mumbai mean to you? Is there a difference?
According to the law, the city has been renamed as Mumbai, so the name Mumbai should be used. Mumbai also indicates the emotional attachment Mumbaikars have for this name. Also, when the resolution for renaming was proposed, all the people unanimously passed this resolution. We respected Bombay for what it was, but the name has been changed because of our city’s original devotee, Mumbadevi.

Why include the name Mumbai in Bombay School of Art? 
There is opposition because it is Bombay and not Mumbai. I accept the original school of art is Bombay. But  when this plaque was conceptualised, they could have at least included Mumbai in brackets. This is the resolution we tabled in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and it was passed by the majority. So, now, they are compelled to implement it.

Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Why didn’t he object then?
Maybe no one noticed it then. Now, people have purposely drawn our attention to this omission. That is why we decided to bring it on our agenda for a discussion in the House. Everybody agreed that there should be no objection to writing Mumbai in brackets beside the titles of ‘Governor of Bombay’ and ‘Bombay School of Art’. We insist they should at least write Mumbai in brackets.

Beijing was renamed Peking but their university is still known as Beijing. Why are we obsessed with Mumbai?
Peking University is still known as Beijing University. Let it be. If they follow old usage, we don’t need to replicate it. The renaming of our city to Mumbai is accepted not only in India, but worldwide. So then there should be no objection to this usage.

Why is Shiv Sena stuck on the issue of renaming?
Who said we are stuck on this issue only? Where have we spent hours discussing this one issue? There are other issues which we are discussing. But we also need to address the concerns of our Mumbaikars. Many people brought it to our attention and then we have to take it up seriously.

Why not rename Bombay Scottish School, where your leader’s children were enrolled?
The name Bombay Scottish has been there since an ancient time in our city. We should respect it. However, when we are referring to this school, we should try and use the name Mumbai Scottish on paper.

Or I will say further, when people are referring to this school, or you are writing about it, you can write Mumbai in brackets after Bombay. This is the least we can do. That doesn’t mean the full name needs to be changed and their registration needs to be cancelled. This need not be done.

Why have you targeted hookah bars and restaurants?
No one seems to realise the damage hookahs are doing to our youth. I have visited these hookah parlours. I have even made surprise visits at some places.

This was not just off the cuff. We have been receiving complaints from the local residents, parents, and principals of colleges situated in those areas. They complained that students were spending time from 5pm in the evening to 11pm at night at these hookah joints.

This needs to be taken seriously. We want Mumbai to become an international city, but when our youth is wasting their lives smoking hookahs, it is definitely of grave concern. We will regret it later if we don’t act now.

Will your party table a legislation on prevention of these hookah parlours?
These hookah parlours are not like juice centres where youth have a juice and go away. They are smoking tobacco. It is addictive. In fact, it is so bad in some parlours, they have introduced offers like giving free trial for hookahs to these college students.

Most of them are in the 14-25 age group. Their body language and gestures indicate they were addicted to hookah. The hookah parlour owners say there is no tobacco in their hookahs. They only have raspberry and apple-flavoured liquid. Why will the youth waste their time smoking raspberry and apple-flavoured water? The rates are Rs200-800.

Many ATM centres are opposite to these parlours. These ATM owners have told us that maximum cash withdrawals take place between 5-11pm.

How will you stop tobacco and ghutka from being sold outside colleges?
At least ghutka and tobacco are banned. So if anyone is selling it, they can be arrested and action can be taken against them. As regards hookah, there is no law banning it. I am hoping people take it seriously.

The rooms in these hookah parlours are dark, lights are dim, music plays in the background, and youngsters loll on mattresses. This is complete degeneration of our culture in our society today. I have brought this matter to the attention of my party seniors and even the leader of the opposition.

Since introducing any bill is a state-level issue, I have presented all the details and findings to them. Now they will have to raise it in the assembly.

On Thursday, I had a meeting with the state health minister Dr Vimal Mundada. She is a mother, doctor and lady and she has shown concern about the hookah bars.

She has assured me that she will give priority to this matter. We have enlisted the problems, solutions and options. We will be holding awareness rallies and camps. June 28 is international de-addiction day.

k_neeta@dnaindia.net