Why is Bombay suddenly called Mumbai?
Mumbai is the name in the local dialect. It has become more popular as Mumbai gained in importance as a business centre (especially in IT). It is a bit tough to read for an outsider. You call Mumbai, you get there everyone being locals call it Mumbai – but then you get to another part of the country and they prefer to call it Bombay because theirs in not the same dialect. Such examples abound in the world, though they’re lesser known. San Sebastian, in Spain, located in the Basque Country which has long used terrorism to seek independence from Spain, is called “San Sebastian” in Spanish, and “Donostia” in Basque. Depending on the circle you’re in while in the Basque country, it can vary between funny and major faux-pas to say “San Sebastian” (or Donostia, for that matter). I don’t think there are any rules. But just think of another example, Beijing, which used to be Peking. But again, it still IS Peking, depending on which Chinese dialect you speak – only that dialect has lost importa
