This volume, third in the series on Bombay, is about contemporary Mumbai or, as it was known for most of its existence, Bombay. The change in the nomenclature of the city, which is an offspring of a political decision taken by the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government of Maharashtra in 1995 and reflected usage in the city"s two major languages - Marathi and Gujarati. Does this change coincide with the transition of Bombay to a great mega city which has qualitative
differences from the former and smaller city? Has Bombay become a post-modern global city? This is the underlying thread of enquiry, which links the papers in the volume and their author"s concerns in treating a great variety of subjects and issues. Collectively the papers present a distinctive view of
Mumbai. They are interpretations of scholars, commentators, and activists of what Bombay has become.

In the first part, Changing City Faces, the two editors provide their own perspectives on how the city can b e viewed. In the second section, Surviving and Living, the focus is on whether the city has improved living standards and quality of life. The third section, Contention and Conflict, looks at the consequences of social fragmentation. And the final section, Imaging the Real, explores the close links of the city with Bollywood.