Bombay – the
city of dreams
I was a rustic village boy from a small non-descript
village Sunkanpally, District Nalgonda of the erstwhile Nizam State of
Hyderabad (now Telangana), came to Bombay in June 1965, after passing the HSC
examination from a Zilla Parishad High School. I was 16 years old. It is 60
years since then, a remarkable journey of turbulence that left a deep imprint.
After learning and acquiring some proficiency in
typing and shorthand, I secured a job in the Office of the Regional Labour
Commissioner, Bombay. under the Union Ministry of Labour. I had a dream of studying in a regular
college in the city to obtain a degree from the University of Bombay. The dream
was shattered. Because I studied in Telugu Medium and didn’t have good marks in
English at the HSC examination, the University refused to give me the eligibility
certificate required to secure admission in its affiliated colleges.
Those days the colleges conducted degree classes both in
the morning and the evening for the benefit of working people. I commuted some 60
km in a local train to attend BA degree classes at Chandibai College,Ulhasnagar,Thane District, that time affiliated to Poona University, beginning at 7.00 AM, and then reached my office
at Ballard Pier, in the heart of the city, around 11.15 AM, an hour late. Being the peak time
for office goers, I had to stand during the entire journey from Ulhasnagar to VT Station in a packed crowded
train that took more than an hour-and-half, reaching the office, tiered and exhausted. I was traveling 120 km to-and-from every day for two years 1970-72; catching
the local Ambarnath slow train 5.30 A.M at Parel, reaching Ulhasnagar station around 7.00 am, more often the train getting late rising my anxiety of missing the first period. By the time I reached the class, the lecture used to start and the teachers were considerate enough to allow me to enter the class. Owing to this ‘Earning and Learning’ facility, that was unique to Bombay, it was possible to realise the dream of securing a degree. Moreover, the fees charged was subsided and
affordable.
The best of my academic pursuit was when I was doing
the master’s in political science from the University of Bombay from the
evening batch at its Fort Campus during the years 1975-77. The classrooms' atmosphere was very conducive
for learning and serious reading and research. It was during those two years
that I had developed a scholarly bent of mind and started reading extensively and
making exhaustive notes from every book and periodical recommended by the
teachers. There was a healthy competitive spirit due to the internal-cum-external
scheme of examination that kept us occupied throughout the year. The teachers who taught us were intellectual giants,
that included Dr. Aloo Dastur, Dr. Usha Mehta, Dr. Y.D. Phadke and Dr. Ramesh Babu.
I was so particular about getting a first class in the
master’s degree that I resigned from the permanent central government job to concentrate on the studies.
About the Rajabai Clock Tower in the Fort Bombay, that houses the University’s
Library, Bernard Shaw said that “its height was only matched by the depth of
Bombay University’s ignorance.” However, to me, it was a beacon of hope. Those
days the library was opened from 9.00 AM to 9 PM on all the days of a week, including holidays and Sundays. I used to
walk to the library from the university’s PG Hostel, opposite Sydenham College,
Churchgate, across the Owal Maidan, and spend practically the whole day in the
library reading and making notes.
During the course of my academic pursuit, I was fortunate
to have come under the spell of the writings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Bertrand
Russell. From them, I learnt the value of being indifferent to personal misfortune.
It was the impact of Nehru’s and Russell’s writings that liberated me from the prejudices
of caste, religion, language and province. Intellectually, I became a secular
and liberal democrat. To me,
discriminating people on the basis of birth and religion is a sign of mental
backwardness – absence of enlightened education. When the birth is accidental,
why look down upon fellow human beings?
The University of Bombay that denied me the admission
to its colleges twice had conferred me a first-class master’s degree in 1977. I secured the post of a junior lecturer in one
of the most prestigious colleges Ramnarain Ruia College, located in Central
Bombay. The five and half years that I taught at this College were the most satisfying
and rewarding. I was so popular that the students from other divisions would prefer to attend my lectures. The teaching is the only profession that gives instant reward. While teaching at Ruia, I was also a vising
faculty member at the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), Bombay,
where I delivered lectures on Public Administration to the trainee officers from
the BMC and other Municipal Bodies across the country. My lectures were specially arranged to
suit my convenience in the afternoons on Saturdays, when the officers from the BMC were given half-day off to enable them to attend my lectures.
I joined K.J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Vidyavihar, as a senior Lecturer in Political Science in December 1982, founded the Department of Political Science and became its Head. I was appointed in June 1991 as the first Principal of the Kandivali Education Society’s College Bombay – a state aided linguistic minority institution of Gujaratis - where I spent next 18 years of my creative life, putting all my learning and knowledge into practice; built the institution and laid its ethical foundation; nurtured and guided the college with far-sighted vision, exceptional courage and turned it into a model first-rate institution in the city. My teaching experience of about 15 years at the AIILSG came handy, and I applied the principles of delegation, coordination, unity of command and integrity effectively with remarkable success, while administering the college. My academic background was best suited for my role as the academic and the administrative head of the College.
My autobiography - magnum opus - The Trial by Fire:
Memoirs of a College Principal gives a gripping account of my relentless fight
against the corrupt system, taking on the high and the mighty to protect the
integrity of the institution of Principal, risking the career time and again in
the process. The autobiography that makes
an interesting and inspirational read, has received rave reviews. It is called a "Lifeblood
of a noble soul, saga of virtuous struggle versus evil,story of indomitable will, inspiration for generations to come”; and “a Bible for the
young teachers to mould their academic careers, retaining all the noble values
humans are inherently imbued with.”
It was Bombay that made it possible to realise my dreams - pursuing higher education, getting a promising and rewarding teaching career, marrying a sophisticated woman with a modern bent of mind, a doctoral degree on the stalwart of the freedom struggle and the first Prime Minister of independent India Pandit Nehru, and publishing a research work on him that has historical bearing. I would not have asked for anything better and more. Incidentally, I became a teacher by accident. I would not have achieved this feat in any other place in India
I am not sure whether the dream city remains the same today. The name of the city of Bombay is changed to Mumbai. And the name of the University of Bombay is changed to University of Mumbai. The name plate of the University is written in bold letters only in one language, that is Marathi, and displayed at the main entrance gates at Fort and Kalina Campuses. It shows how linguistic jingoism has percolated into what once known as a premier national university. Added to this, the regional, the linguistic and the political ideological considerations have taken the sheen off the University. And I do not think a rustic village boy, like me, could now dream of coming to Mumbai and achieve what I have achieved, with increasing commercialisation and privatisation of higher education, making quality higher education inaccessible and simply unaffordable to a vast majority of people. The dream has gone sour.
03.06.2025
“Yes, I agree Mumbai did provide opportunities as entitled by you ...I came to Mumbai in 1969 after passing SSC from my native village Kothara Kutch...I was lucky to have free lodging and boarding facility at GT Bording school ..I wanted to for Jai Hind college for science but my father plainly said he would not be able finance professional courses of engineering or medicine...I joined Sydenham college of commerce. And simultaneously applied for job in bank by the time I completed my first year I turned 18 and joined Bank of India Ghatkopar branch...I had to leave full time college and joined NM College which ran evening program at Vile Parle. After a day’s work at Ghatkopar, I used to take Best bus at 5.pm to reach NM College by 6.40 pm, reaching home at 10.30. Then I was staying at Mulund with my elder brother. I completed my BCOM MCOM and continued to work in bank promoted as officer in 1976. I continued my studies, did LLB, LLM, MFM, FCS and CAIIB...All this was possible because of education facilities at reasonable cost were available.”- Anil Gor
“Congratulations for completing 60 years in Bombay. sharing your experiences starting from school age till date and also contributing your vast experiences and knowledge through your articles continuously to the next generation. it’s really so sad that no opportunity for meritorious people in any field now anywhere in our society.” ---Mehermani
“Your life journey is undoubtedly an inspiration and a guiding light for both youngsters and educators alike. The transformation from Bombay to Mumbai has been drastic. In today’s context, if one can speak Marathi, their voice is heard — otherwise, it becomes difficult to express or be acknowledged. Regionalism and linguistic dominance are clearly visible. Sadly, there seems to be little recognition or respect for common intellectuals who contribute silently yet significantly. Your last few lines mentioned are true.” - Srinivas
04.06.2025
“Your personal account is a deeply moving and powerful memoir that documents not only your journey of academic and professional transformation but also serves as a historical testimony to the social and educational ethos of Bombay during a transformative era in India’s post-independence period. Your writing is honest, dignified, and deeply personal. It carries the emotional weight of someone who has lived through adversity and emerged not only successful but principled and reflective. The narrative flows chronologically, allowing readers to witness your evolution from a “rustic village boy” to a respected academician and principled institution-builder. Your story is a glowing tribute to perseverance. Waking up before dawn, commuting 120 km daily, working full-time, and studying with a fierce will to learn—your account captures what it truly means to “earn and learn.” The years spent at Ruia, Somaiya, and finally as Principal of Kandivali Education Society’s College form the heart of your professional legacy. Your dedication to ethical leadership and resistance against corruption stand as a beacon of academic integrity. Your reflections are marked by concern and sadness over the current state of Mumbai’s educational landscape—marred by regionalism, linguistic parochialism, and the commodification of education. The narrative vibrates with emotion—frustration, triumph, intellectual excitement, and later, a tinge of disillusionment—which connects readers to your journey at a human level. It’s a testimonial of India’s educational and moral journey, as seen through the life of one determined individual. It stands as a chronicle of dreams realized through sheer merit, in a city that once lived up to its reputation of opportunity. It will inspire educators, students, policymakers, and readers who believe in the transformative power of education rooted in ethics and equity. This deserves wider publication and academic attention. It’s a story that could resonate with thousands of first-generation I am honoured to write this.” - Lakshmi
09.06.2025
“Since I had read your autobiography soon after it was published and having been friends for about 50 years, all that you have written is old stuff for me. Nevertheless, it would be quite interesting for your regular readers. Your story is the story of all migrants to Mumbai, whether Maharashtrian or non- Maharashtrian. Privileged migrants are a small minority. Many film stars, too, who came here spent many years of struggle before they became famous. George Fernandes, it is said, had to sleep in the streets before he became a trade union leader and politician. A very large number of college professors even today commute in crowded trains and buses for hours daily. Life in Mumbai is the story of struggle and grit. Some succeed well, while others just manage to stay afloat. You are in the first category. But I agree that Mumbai is the city of dreams in India. It is the most cosmopolitan even today, in spite of the increased parochialism. To some extent parochialism has been tamed by the cosmopolitanism of the city. The real strength of the city is this cosmopolitanism. With determination, hard work and perseverance one can succeed and make a mark in Mumbai. But many deviate from the ethical foundation of society in their pursuit of success. However, you have not deviated from the ethical roots that should determine the true fragrance of the blossom of success. Again, there can be no disagreement about the fall in standards not only in education, but also in every aspect of society. This is what everyone must be concerned about. An ethical and cultural renaissance is the need of the hour.
Good wishes. You could elaborate and write a longer piece about the city of dreams and your role both as participant and observer.” -Anthony
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