Attacks by Chauvinists Continue Against The Use of Name Bombay

The Times of India

Sena attacks BNHS for 'Bombay' in its name

by Viju B & Ambarish Mishra, TNN, Mar 12, 2010, 01.13am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a 126-year-old landmark institution that has undertaken pioneering wildlife conservation and research in the country, on Thursday became the latest victim of the campaign for the Marathification of Mumbai being undertaken by the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Around 50 Shiv Sainiks marched into the premises and, using hammers and a chisel, vandalised the society's sign by taking off the 'B' from 'Bombay' in the name. They then put a 'Mumbai' over the 'Bombay' in the Devanagari part of the sign and erected a banner proclaiming the organisation as the 'Mumbai Natural History Society' in Devanagari.

Close on the heels of MNS members attacking the stores of a mobile service provider on Wednesday for not giving recordings in Marathi, the Shiv Sena, not wanting to be left behind in the battle for the Marathi vote, engaged in its own strong-arm tactics on Thursday at the BNHS headquarters in Colaba.

A BNHS official said the organisation, which calls itself "the largest NGO in the Indian subcontinent engaged in nature conservation research", was hit "because it is a soft target".

The BNHS office is in Hornbill House, bang opposite the HQ of the Maharashtra police, where the director general of police sits. It is also a kilometre from the Colaba Police Station, whose personnel reached the spot after the damage was done. A sainik later quipped, "The police, as always, came in late." No arrests were made.

"We are filing a criminal complaint against the Shiv Sena leaders for damaging and destroying a heritage institution," said BNHS president B G Deshmukh, who is a former Union cabinet secretary.

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray is a life member of the BNHS and an avid wildlife photographer. "He would visit the BNHS when there were exhibitions. We thought he was a friend of the BNHS. We are completely shocked by this behavior," said a senior BNHS official. Deshumkh said that party leaders who instigate their members should be made responsible for damages. "The recent Bombay high court order is very clear on this issue," said an official.

A BNHS official said that sainiks had met them a month earlier and demanded the name change. "We told them that the BNHS's name is registered with the charity commissioner and any change could be done only after informing the commission," said BNHS director Dr Asad R Rahmani. He said only the BNHS board had the power to change the name. "The issue will be discussed at the next board meeting. We have filed a police complaint on the entire incident," he said.

BNHS officials said the sainiks came armed with hammers, chisel and even a ladder. "Before we knew what was happening outside, they climbed up and broke the 'B' from the sign that has stood for a hundred years. As per the state government's directive, we had in fact added another sign in the Devanagiri script," the official said.

He said it was an insult to the city's rich cultural heritage that research institutions like the BNHS, which have done much to protect and promote wildlife and the environment, have been targeted for petty political gain.

The sainiks, in keeping with their sons-of-the-soil agenda, raised angry slogans outside the BNHS office. Led by party leader Anil Desai and vibhag-pramukh Pandurang Sakpal, they presented a memorandum to a BNHS functionary calling for a change in the nomenclature.

"The BNHS people have told us that there will be a meeting in Mumbai in April when a proposal to rename the society will be discussed," said Sakpal.

When asked if the Sena respects the BNHS's sterling contribution to the preservation of environment and wildlife, Sakpal said, "We all know about the society, but it should adhere to the change in the city's name which was done a few years ago. We don't wish to belittle the BNHS's work. However, they should respect local sentiments."

However, a BNHS official said, "The BNHS was targeted because it is a soft target. There are so many other public institutions with the same name nearby that were left alone as they have better security. We are sitting ducks," the official said.

The Sena has stepped up its sons-of-the-soil crusade in an attempt to curb the growing clout of the MNS, which won its political spurs by raking up the Marathi issue.