How was bombay formed ?

THE TIME MACHINE PROJECT

SEASON 1


This segment of our blog focuses on understanding the evolution process of the city. Every city has its characteristics – social, political economic aspects and these are based on how the city evolved. These notions are important, as they give us the data of how the city shaped up and why are things the way they are. For all this we have THE TIME MACHINE PROJECT starting with our own city #mumbai

This season of the time machine project we will be focussing on topics like how mumbai was formed, forts in mumbai, trade & commerce, mills chawls to fancy malls of mumbai how this evolution happened and through these topics answering the UN-ANSWERED.

Which dynasties ruled mumbai? How much time did it take to reclaim mumbai? How did the name BOMBAY arrived.

  • Mumbai was governed by many empires. During the 3rd century BC it was a part of MAURYA EMPIRE. Between 2nd & 9th century mumbai came under rule of several indigenous dynasties such as SATAVAHANAS, VAKATAKAS, KALACHURI, CHALUKIA & RASHTRAKUTAS.
  • 810 AD to 1260 AD mumbai was ruled by silhara dynasty. By 13th century mumbai was the kingdom of king bhimdev before being annexed by the delhi sultanate and ruled till 1407. After which independent Gujarat sultanate ruled the city till 1534. When all the islands that constitute mumbai were handed over to Portuguese empire.
  • In 1534, Portuguese captured the islands and established a trading centre (factory). The Portuguese called the place “BOM BAHIA” meaning ‘the good bay’ which the english pronounced BOMBAY
  • BY 1626 there was a great ware house, a friary, a fort and a ship building yard.
  • The first Englishmen to visit mumbai were raiders. In october 1626, whilst a war with Portugal, english sailors heard that the Portuguese had “got into a hole called BOMBAY” to repair their ships.
  • They attacked bombay but the ships had already left. The English burned down buildings and destroyed two new Portuguese ships not yet from the stocks.
  • In may 1662, king charles II of england married Catherine of braganza whose family offered a large dowry. Part of this gift was the Portuguese territory of bombay. However Charles II didnot want the trouble of ruiling the islands and in 1668 persuaded the EAST INDIA COMPANY to rent them for just 10 pounds of gold a year.
  • Within a few years the company had transformed bombay. Governor Gerald aungier set about building up the port with a new quary, Warehouses and a customs house.
  • In 1670 the company had 1500 soldier in bombay to protect people living here. By 1675, the population was around 60,000. In 1687, the company made bombay their indian headquarters. The headquarters stayed there until 1708.
  • Mumbai was originally a cluster of seven islands, colaba, bombay island, parel, mahim, worli, little colaba & mazgaon.
  • FACT: COLABA was originally SOUTH MUMBAI locate which was once called OLD WOMAN’S ISLAND

  • IT took nearly 150 years to join the seven islands of Mumbai. Originally Mumbai was from DONGRI TO MALABAR HILL. The first reclamation took place in 1708 between Mahim & sion. Second took place in 1772, to connect Mahalaxmi to worli. In 1803 salsette bay causeway was reclaimed from sion.
  • Colaba causeway pined the island of Colaba to Mumbai in 1838. Mahim & Bandra were connected by a causeway in 1845.
  • In 1853, the first Indian railway opened which stretched from Bombay to thana.
  • During the 20th century, Mumbai was a strong base for the INDIAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT. The first session of the Indian National Congress was held here in December 1885. And for the next 50 years, the city hosted the annual congress session 6 times.
  • The city saw its first economic boom during the American civil war (1861 – 65) becoming the chief cotton trading market in the world.
  • In 1960, Maharashtra was formed & Mumbai was declared as the capital of the new state.
  • Navi Mumbai is the world’s largest planned city with an area covering 344 sq.km. The twin city of Mumbai was developed in 1972.
  • The city changed its name in 1995 to MUMBAI after MumbaDevi, the stone goddess of the deep-sea fishermen who originally lived on the islands before they were driven out by the EAST INDIA COMPANY.