Sena proposes Marathi name for Metro subway

MUMBAI: Looks like William Shakespeare’s oft-quoted inquiry “What’s in a name?” holds no weight with the ruling alliance in the BMC — the Shiv Sena.

Nameplate after nameplate; chowk after chowk, the Sena wants to eliminate the memories of the British Raj and replace them with Indian, specifically more Maharshtrian names.
 
The latest on their casualty list is the newly inaugurated Metro subway at Dhobi Talao which was thrown opened its gate to the public on Thursday. The word ‘Metro’ which ironically means ‘a subway system’ hasn’t gone down well with the Sena corporators.

“Why should we use an English word Metro for our subway? Let’s rename it after a freedom fighter instead,” said the standing committee chairman, Ravindra Waikar to Mayor Shubha Raul during the inauguration function.

After receiving a nod from everyone, it was decided to rechristen the subway after freedom fighter — Vasudeo Balwant Phadke. Sena corporator and leader of the house Sunil Prabhu and BJP leader Bhalchandra Shirsat, endorsed Waikar’s views when they gathered to pay tribute alongside the Mayor at Phadke’s bust near the subway on Thursday. The proposal of renaming the subway will be tabled at the BMC Standing committee meeting.

b_linah@dnaindia.net