The story of Mumbai (simplified)

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

The city of Mumbai was originally an archipelago consisting of 7 islands, namely:

Colaba - Mazgaon - Old Woman’s Island - Wadala- Mahim- Parel & Matunga-Sion

These islands have since been joined together by a series of reclamations-and is what we now know as MUMBAI.

Who are the Kolis?

The Kolis are the original fisherfolk inhabitants, and always called the islands as "Mumba" after Mumbadevi- the Hindu deity to whom a temple is dedicated at Babulnath near Chowpatty.

💡Origins of the East Indian Catholics of Bombay.

During the time that Bombay's island were separated from one another, the northern suburbs; namely Borivali, Mira Bhayandar and Bassein Utan were inhabited by Agris who engaged in various occupations typical to this coastal region~ namely, fishing, salt cultivation and farming. The Agris are an ethnic community (basically hindus) who speak a Konkani dialect distinct to these areas. Their written script was Devanagari.

Agri fisherefolk are KOLIS

Agri farmers are KUNBIS

Agri toddy tappers are BHAMDARIS

Agri carpenters are SUTARS

Agris are Hindus predominantly from Mumbai's Konkan coast

They were introduced to Christ's teachings when Bartholomew the Apostle stepped on the Konkan coast around 55AD. The Portuguese were beginning to get a foothold around coastal India and eventually captured this northern suburbs by the 15th CE. As Christianity stresses on conversion as a basic tenement of their religion, the Portuguese who were Roman Catholics managed to convert a vast number of Agris to Roman Catholicism.

Early history of Mumbai

3rd century BCE - The Mauryan empire under Emperor Ashoka ruled these islands, and made it a rich center of Buddhism. Sopara (now called as Nala Sopara) was an important port and busy trading center then.

185 BCE - The Mauryan empire began to decline, and these islands were then controlled by the Satvahanas.

250 BCE till 1343 - After the rule of Satvahanas came to an end, these islands then passed into the hands of various Hindu (dynasties) rulers.

1348 - The Mohammedans of Gujerat took possession and the kings of the province of India, ruled for the next two centuries, thus ending the sovereignty of Hindu rulers.

1491 - An ongoing Bahadur Shah Gilani, a nobleman of the Bahmani Sultanate posed a threat to the Mohammedans of Gujerat. Thereby ending in Bahadur Shah taking over the islands along with the whole of Konkan.

1510 - The Portuguese who had by then succeeded in firmly taking hold of Goa, Daman and Diu- now set about consolidating their maritime presence in north Konkan.

1534 - Bahadur Shah Gilani apprehensive of the growing power of the Mughals signed a treaty with the Portuguese by handing over the seven islands of Bombay and the strategic town of Bassein to the Portuguese, thus bringing to an end Islamic rule on the islands.

The Portuguese on the other hand were Roman Catholics, and as was their policy, they began religious expansionism in the region. They built many churches and also forts of Sion, Mahim, Bandra, and Bassein during their time.

The name Bom Baia- which means 'Good Bay' is a legacy from the Portuguese.

1640- The first Parsi to arrive to Bom Baia was Dorabji Nanabhoy Patel.

1662- .Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza married King Charles II of England, and the islands of Bom Baia were gifted to King Charles II as dowry

1668- The English East India Company which was operating from Surat then, was in search for another deeper water port, so that vessels could dock- so they acquired the islands on lease from the crown for a mere annual sum of 10 pounds in gold.

1687- The East India Company shifts its headquarters to Bom Baia and changed the name to Bombay.

1689- A severe plague strikes down most of the Europeans, and the Siddhi of Janjira taking advantage of the situation makes several attempts to reposses the islands by force. But Rustomji Dorabji Patel a Parsi trader and son of Dorabji Nanabhoy Patel (mentioned above). He along with the kolis successfully foiled the attack on behalf of the British.

[Koli settlements can be found at Backbay reclamation, Mahim, Bandra, Khar,Bassein and Madh island.]

1700 onwards- The arrival of many Indian and British merchants ushers trade in Bombay.

1782- Hornby Vellard engineering project under William Hornby begins reclamation work of joining the 7 seven islands into a single landmass.

1850 onwards- Bombay began to grow into a major trading town. In due course of time the city began to take shape as new constructions and develpments were started by the British.

Suggested read- Bombay: Gothic city, a glimpse into British Colonial architecture and buildings