I noticed in all three news reports I read about it, they used Bombay throughout the article, and one of the reports was foreign. I'm sure it will remain Bombay for most people -- I mean are you now going to order Mumbai Sapphire Gin?

I think ther's more to it than that, probably jingoistic. For example, even the chinese use to say and write Mao's name as Mao Tse Tung, then all of a sudden it was Ma Zedung. Well the "dung" part makes sense anyway ! jorge

Strange world, nothing is more permanent than temporary sollutions. Mumbay stay Bombay, And Burma stay Burma, whatever the corrupt regime there decide. Guess this thread is slightly off topic now....

Part of the confusion arises from the romanization system used. Wade-Giles,Yale, and now Pinyin are the most common forms of converting ideographic Chinese to something "westerners" can read. Misunderstanding of the Wade-Giles system resulted in mispronouncing Beijing as Peking. It was all a matter of aspiration of the consonants. That's the real story which you probably didn't want to hear.

Interesting Hobie, although a far cry from African Big Game Hunting

There are still people in the southern US who resent "occupation".

A friend of mine introduced me to his grandmother. She, knowing we were interested in military history, was telling us about those damn Russians. Not in 1956 (which did PO her) but in 800 something (yes, AD).

Look at the attitude of many blacks in this country. Mad at me for slavery somebody in their family endured over 100 years ago (and my family opposed slavery and enlisted with the documented purpose of ending slavery).

Many Koreans are distrustful of Japan because of the repeated occupations of Korea by the Japanese (the most recent being from 1910 to 1945).

You can find a lot of such instances...

Thanks Hobie. I always wondered why all of a sudden the words changed one day. I still like "55 Days At Peking" better though! jorge

Interesting. Thanks for the reply.

Some things just shouldn't change, though. I still refuse to acknowledge Saigon as "Whore" Chi Minh City. Some things run deep.

(I'm still in shock over Calcutta being nuked off the map.)

Russ