History of Mumbai

Recognized as commercial hub of India. Mumbai earlier known as Bombay is one of the most populous city in the world. History reveals that the city consisted of seven islands namely Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion.  Although the sings of human life were found since the Stone Age, however the people of fisherman community known as Kolis dominated the island.  The people of Kolis community were the separate groups of tribes from Vindhya Plateau, Gujarat, and Konkan. During that period there generally three-four major tribes in the region. Later the area of captured by the Mauryans in 350 B.C. Origin of Mumbai can be well understood by dividing the history of its evolution into different period.

The Period of Several Rulers:  Mauryan Empire Ashoka captured the area from Kolis community and established his dominance during 350 B.C. This area of was developed as the merging point of two religions namely Hinduism and Buddhism. Various manuscripts and works of fine arts related to Buddhism can be witnessed in the Kanheri and Mahakali Caves of that century. With the decline of Mauryas the area came under the control of Satavahanas, who had friendly relations with the kingdom of Rome and developed the port of Sopara (recognized as Nala Sopara later) as the major centre of Trade with Rome. According to the renowned Greek Geographer of the then period Ptolemy the group of islands was called as Heptanesia at that time.

With the decline of Satavahanas, the area felt under the control of rulers of Abhiras and Vakatakas who originated from the areas of Western Maharashtra and Vidharbha respectively. Later in the fifth century the area came under the control of Kalachuris of Central India, who were demolished by the Mauryas, who were their feuds. It was during their rule that the Jogeshwari Caves were constructed. Later the area of Kalyan was invaded by the Greek merchant Cosmas Indicopleustes. The origin of world known Elephanta Caves dates back to the same period.

Establishment of Nestorian Church on the islands marked the arrival of Christians in the country. However, the Chalukyas of Karnataka under Pulakesi II invaded the area and abolished the control of Mauryas from the area. Later during 749-750 B.C. Dantidurga of Rashtrakuta Dynasty from Karanataka captured the island and established his dominance in the area.

With the passing time the area came under the control of the rulers of Silhara dynasty of Konkan during 810 to 1260. During the late 13th century King Bhimdev of Yadav dynasty established his control and constructed various temples in the area.

However with the invasion of area by Muslim rulers of Gujarat in 1348 the dominance of Hindu rulers came to an end.

The Mughal Period: The Muslim ruler Mubarak Khan of Khaliji dynasty of Gujarat captured the area from the Hindu rulers and established his dominance on the islands. He appointed Maliq-us-Sharq as the governor of Mahim and entrusted him the authority to make survey of existing rules in the islands and also amended the existing revenue system of the island. However, during the early 15th century the Bhandaris captured the island from the Mughal rulers and controlled the area for eight years. After which the area was recaptured by Rai Qutb of Gujarat Sultanate. After the death of Rai Qutb the area came under the control of Ahmad Shah I Wali of Bahmani Sultanate.

After the decline of Ahmad Shah I the sultanate of Gujarat recaptured the area and established his dominance and constructed various mosques the major being the mosque of famous saint Haji Ali called as Haji Ali Dargah in he Mahim area.

However with the invasion by Portuguese the rule of Mughal emperors came to an end.

The Portuguese in Mumbai: The Portuguese arrived in India in 1498 and appropriated the west coast for their establishments. Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Bombay and captured it. The Portuguese were becoming a force to be reckoned by 1560.

They were impressed by the Bombay Harbour and forced Sultan Bahadur Shah to hand over Bassein and its neighbouring islands to them. So in 1534, Bassein and the nearby areas including Bombay were ceded to Joao, King of Portugal, according to the treaty signed between Sultan Bahadur Shah and the Portuguese. They named it Bombaim or Good Bay. These areas came under one Maestro, Diago.

The British in Bombay: In 1661, King Charles II of England received ‘Bombay’ as port of the dowry and he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. In 1668 it was handed over to the East India Company. East India Company shortly moved their main holdings from Surat to Bombay. George Oxenden was the first governor of Bombay.

The British built forts, huge custom houses and other buildings in the period, but the real development of the city began around 1857, the year of Sepoy Mutiny.

In 1858 by a special proclamation, the administration of the country itself was taken over by the queen of England, “Queen Victoria”, from the company. A Victoria was appointed to rule the country in the name of the Queen. Politically Bombay came under the direct rule of British and this period marked the tremendous growth of Bombay.

In 1861, Central India Railway opened its first section with the opening of the Broach (Bharuch) and Barod (Vadodara) lines. The year 1864 marked the beginning of modern water supply. The Indian National Congress was formed in Bombay in the year 1865.

Bombay played an important role in the political affairs of the country after the entry of Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 in the Indian politics.

Period after Independence:  Independence of India brought its division into two nations India and Pakistan. As the result of this partition more than 1,000,000 Sindhi refugees migrated from Pakistan. They were relocated in the military camps within the range of  five kilometers from Kalyan. Later this area was developed into a township and named as Ulhasnagar in 1949.

With the merging of the sub urban areas and Bombay city the district of Greater Bombay came into existence on April 1950.

The coming years after that marked a notable development of the city earlier called as Bombay and now as Mumbai.