In Circles Over Renaming

The pollution of the Ganga, i.e. drinking water, the state of the economy, the Chinese causing us uneasiness and Pakistan's nuclear programm...

The pollution of the Ganga, i.e. drinking water, the state of the economy, the Chinese causing us uneasiness and Pakistan’s nuclear programmes. Don’t these things matter any longer? That people spend so much time and energy in a haphazard manner on renaming a chowk is amazing when there are so many important issues to worry about. Renaming is often done by people to ingratiate themselves or gain popularity. But when there are so many vital issues, why are we wasting time on such a non-issue? In the words of Manmohan Singh: "We have all the time for negative things, but not enough for positive things."

Firstly, one should ascertain how the naming was done. By calling the place Khodadad it has an impact on the mind. It was the right name for the Circle and it continues to be relevant. The suggested renaming of Khodadad Circle brings to mind another thoughtless suggestion made not so long ago about renaming Madame Cama Road. Ignorance about this great international freedom-fighter is unforgivable. She is, infact, one of the very few outstanding persons to be honoured in the Lok Sabha. Similarly, feelings were hurt when they tried to change the name of Lady Jamshedji Road in 1995. She was a mother figure of Bombay. She brought the seven islands together and helped make the city what it is. Thank God her name has been rightly retained! The renaming business could go too far with loss of decorum. One cannot think of a city like Mumbai without bearing in mind the Irani contribution. Gustadji Khodadad Irani was a great builder and belonged to the city. Besides, he was a great philanthropist, serving tea free to the deserving. He held an honourable name. It was not that he served free tea to some and then overcharged others. This landmark circle was named after his father at the request of Gustadji. Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city and we are proud of it. Take Horniman Circle, which is named after an Englishman, dedicated to India’s freedom struggle. He was the editor of Bombay Chronicle. In those days, when HornimanCircle was named, we were broad-minded.

(The writer is an industrialist and a philanthropist)

Khodadad Circle Factfile

1928: Government persuaded to name the structure, then a tram terminus, after builder Gustadji’s Khodadad Irani’s father as Khodadad Circle.

1934: The four quadrants of the circle completed with buildings designed for shops on the ground floor and residential flats on the two upper floors.

1980: Boards identifying the Dadar TT (tram terminus) as Khodadad Circle erected by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking changes the name of its bus terminal point from Dadar TT to Khodadad Circle.

1982: Proposal to change the name of Khodadad Circle to Tilak Chowk.

1991: Khodadad Circle, along with other neighbouring structures, included in in the heritage list. Plans to build a flyover dropped.

1993: Another proposal to rename Khodadad Circle after Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

1998:Shiv Sena corporator Hemant Doke moves a proposal to change the name to Swami Samarth Chowk, arguing that Khodadad is an Afghan name.

(Courtesy Firoze Sholapurwala, who has been living at Boman Lodge, Khodadad Circle, since `52)