Vivek Trivedi

My name is Vivek Trivedi . My family has called Mumbai home for five, maybe six generations. We were here when it was Bombay — when the sea breeze carried the scent of mills, when the trams clanged through the city’s veins, and when civic pride was real. We saw Bombay become Mumbai , and the Bombay Municipal Corporation transform into the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — now touted as the richest municipal body in India. As a  Mumbaikar for over 40 years , I’ve witnessed all shades of the BMC — from its rare acts of efficiency to its deep-seated  corruption. Despite having a budget larger than several small Indian states, Mumbai continues to struggle with potholes, flooding, encroachments, and apathy. And while our city welcomes everyone — from every part of Bharat and the world — those of us whose roots run deep are often labelled “Gujju,” “Gandiya,” or told to “go back to Gujarat.” But this is our home.   And watching it be systematically eroded by a can...