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What's in a Name?
I watched a quiz on TV recently where there was a multiple choice question (roughly) as follows: In what country is the stock exchange known as the BSE?
A. India B. Japan C. Thailand
I knew Japan has the Nikkei and I knew Bombay had been changed to Mumbai. I also "knew" this was because the British colonists had misinterpreted the natives saying "Mumbai" as Bombay* (sounds plausible if you imagine Mumbai in an Indian accent). Not able to think of any other Indian cities beginning with B, I concluded it must be in Bangkok, Thailand.
Apparently not. India's main stock exchange is still the Bombay Stock Exchange.
"So what?" I hear you cry. I'll not pretend this has a major impact on Northern Ireland, though I there may be a few parallels with our own Stroke City. Apparently the Bombay Stock Exhchange, Bombay Times, Bombay High Court and Bombay Scottish School are now being targeted by vandals who enjoy the support of a nationalist political grouping (the "Army of Shiva") who have been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims. 12 years ago they succeeded in having Bombay redesignated Mumbai. What was Madras is now Chenai, Calcutta is Kolkata and there are calls for Goa to be renamed Govapuri.