Bombay Hot line phone

true story for Say in Eight

Say in Eight

When Sam Adams was in Mumbai
They discovered an old hotline phone
Dating back to the late 40s
while renovating the consulate
he imagined the conversations
back in the 40s between the Bombay cops
and jaded bored U.S. diplomats.

Note: I still have that red phone – no dials – a direct line
To the Bombay police HQ circa 1946 or so when the US consulate was set up in an old palace. The true story is that the Indian government in 1946 started charging hereditary princes taxes. The Maharashtra Prince made an offer to the U.S. pay my taxes and the palace ground is yours provided I or my descendants are always welcome to the July 4th party. The Maharashtra grandson confirmed that story at a July 4th party. So many possibilities for a poem or story based on this true factoid including several ghost stories. The Consulate moved in 2007 to a new building more suitable as an office building.