In French, London is Londres. The residents of Prague call their city Praha. Neither the Londoner nor the person from Prague seems very worried by other people calling their cities other names. It's something of a wonder that our city must now be referred to as Mumbai, even by someone in a Karan Johar film or there will be riots in Pune. In India, Mumbai goes by different names. In Hindi, it is Bambai. In Konkani, it is Momoi. In Marathi, it is Mumbai.

Is there a difference between Bombay and Mumbai? Is there a difference between foetor and stink? A polluted city that has ceased to attract new capital, that discourages new talent, that turns down its shutters every time there's a flutter in political dovecotes, will smell like a failure by any other name.