History of Mumbai

The history of Mumbai recounts the growth of a collection of islands on the western coast of India becoming the commercial and cultural capital of the nation and one of the most populous cities in the world. Although the islands were inhabited by humans since the Stone Age, the city was founded by Portuguese and British colonists in the 17th century. The city was named Bombay by the Portuguese and it served as the city's official name until 1995, when it was changed to Mumbai, and both names are popularly and commonly used. Its inhabitants are informally known as Bombayites or Mumbaikars.

The present city was originally made up of seven small islands, composing mostly of mangrove forests and marshland dissected by rivers, streams and the sea. Fishing villages and settlements of the Koli and Aagris tribes developed on these islands, and the area became a centre for Hindu and Buddhist and Christian culture and religion under the Maurya Empire. Many of the Koli were christains from the early ages. The ancient port of Sopara served to connect western India with West Asia, and in the 9th century the area came under the rule of the Silhara dynasty, before falling in 1343 to the Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat. The arrival of the Portuguese in India in 1498 resulted in them appropriating much of the west coast of India. In 1508, Francis Almeida sailed in the archipelago and named it Bom Bahia or "Good Bay." In 1661 the seven islands were ceded to Charles II of England as the dowry of Catherine de Braganza. The islands were leased to the British East India Company in 1668.

The British undertook land-filling and draining of the marshlands, developing a modern port and city, which attracted migrant workers from across India. In the 19th century, Mumbai emerged as an important centre of international commerce, industry and culture and in the 20th century, it became an important centre for politics and government, becoming a strong base of the Indian independence movement. Following India's independence in 1947, the city's population has expanded exponentially. Modern service, commerce and technology sectors have replaced the older, heavier industries and the expansion of city limits has been accompanied by the foundation of the sister city of Navi Mumbai. Although suffering from widespread crime, pollution, and overpopulation, Mumbai remains the most attractive centre of life, culture and commerce in India, with its inhabitants enjoying a far higher quality living conditions and a vibrant, modern economy and urban infrastructure.

Foundation of Mumbai city

In 1782 William Hornby, then Governor of Bombay Presidency, initiated the project of connecting the isles. The Hornby Vellard was the first of the engineering projects, started in 1784, despite opposition from the directors of the East India Company. The cost of the vellard was estimated at Rs. 100,000. The project gained momentum in 1817, and by 1845 the seven southern islands had been connected to form Old Bombay, with an area of 435 km². Railway viaducts and road bridges were built in the 19th century to connect Bombay island to Sashti, and Sashti to the mainland. These railway lines encouraged wealthier merchants to build villas on Sashti, and by 1901 the population of Sashti was 146,993, and became known as Greater Bombay. The channels separating Bombay and Trombay islands from Sashti Island were filled in the early 20th century. Charles II, eager to set up base in India, leased the islands in 1668 to the fledgling British East India Company for a paltry sum of £ 10 per annum in gold. The company, in search of a deep water port for its large vessels, found the deep harbour opposite for this purpose. After the East India Company shifted base to the islands in 1668, Sir George Oxenden became the first governor of the new province. He was succeeded by Gerald Aungier in 1672. He offered various incentives to skilled workers and traders to move to this British possession. The opportunities for business attracted many communities from Gujarat — the Parsis, the Dawoodi Bohras, the Jews and the Gujarati community. Aungier was given the title "Father of Bombay" by historians as it was his foresight to develop the islands into a centre of commerce to rival other ports which were in the hands of other kingdoms which resulted in the boom in the economy. He fortified defences by embarking on the construction of the Bombay Castle and established courts of law to provide justice.

In 1682, the Company fortified an isle — The Middle Ground Coastal Battery in the archipelago to curb the sea piracy in the area. Later a marine police force comprising of Bhandaris were stationed there to keep an eye on the pirates who used to board the ships. The police were a formidable sight and soon the area was devoid of pirates. After surpassing Surat in importance as the Company's chief port on the west coast the population was estimated to rise from 10,000 in 1661 to 60,000 by 1675. In 1687, the presidency of the East India Company shifted from Surat to Bombay and consequently it became its headquarters in 1708. In 1715 the construction of Bombay Castle was finished. The southern limit of the castle was the present day Flora Fountain area where a gate stood. The castle also known as Fort St George or Bombay Fort fortified the island of Bombay from a sea attack by the Portuguese and Mughals. This enclave proved to be a safe haven for many skilled workers away from the power struggles on the mainland. The shipbuilding industry moved to Bombay from Surat with the coming of the Wadias who were Parsis. In 1753, the Naval Dockyard was opened which remains the oldest docks in the city. Artisans from Gujarat, such as goldsmiths, ironsmiths and weavers moved to the islands and coexisted with the slave trade from Madagascar. During this time period, the first land-use laws were set up in Bombay, segregating the British part of the islands from the black town. In 1757, Kamathis, construction workers from Andhra Pradesh arrived here and set up base. The region was the low-lying area near present day Mahalaxmi. The region became known as Kamathipura, now notorious for its red-light area. In 1794 the Presidency Post Office was established.