The History Of Foundation & Development Of Mumbai - One Of The Major Cities In India
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and has evolved into a global financial hub. For several decades it has been the home of India's main financial services, and a focus for both infrastructure development and private investment. From deep-sea fishermen to financial capital of India, Bombay has been growing over centuries with imprints of Stone Age Era.
The story of Mumbai starts with 7 – The Seven Islands of Bombay were separated by swamp lands that were dangerous and weak.“All things exist in sevens, since it is the nature of the universe to exist in sevens” – Enoch Tan, creator of Mind RealityThousand years ago, these islands belonged to Magadhan Empire ruled by Emperor Ashoka which embedded Buddhist Monks and deep-sea fishermen called “kolis” whose goddess gave the name ‘MUMBAI’ to the modern megalopolis. Further, it was taken over by Silhara Dynasty in the mid thirteen century. During this time, merchants and agriculturists started settling between 9th- 13th century as the city by the sea was the world’s centre of commerce.
Bombay had been into various hands. In 1343, the sultan of Gujarat named Bahadur Shah took over the islands; during ensued war, Kokani people appeared and Mahim fell into Gujrati kings. Later with the arrival of Portuguese, the rule of sultan of Gujarat was forced to cede. The Portuguese were already at war along the coast of India. They started to capture from the south of India, Goa to north i.e. Bassein (Vasai). Later, they defeated and took over the rights of the islands of Bombay in 1534. Portuguese started trading centre because of good bay and gradually grew with different trading products. New houses started to build for the population and mansions for wealthy, warehouses, forts and ship building yards in 1626.
In due course, Catherine of Braganza brought these islands of Bombay to England as a part of her marriage dowry with King Charles II. Later when the Portugal ceded the islands to British, it was lush of vegetation, rice fields and fishing hamlets. As it was found difficult to rule from England, prince rented out at just 10 pounds per year to British East India Company. English Company, Sir George Oxenden was governor in 1668 and company of merchants of London started trading into East Indies and was formed for the exploitation of trade with East, Southeast Asia and India. Later, it became an agent of British Imperialism in India. Neither Mughals nor Portuguese saw those islands as trade centres. It seemed British had an eye for years. He was followed by Gerald Aungier as Governor in 1670 offered transformations in Bombay like building ports, warehouses, new quay, and customs house. With this, it created business opportunities and released for trade and commerce. He later came up with a complex building programme; where people build their own houses, causeways to link islands, forts and castle, church and hospitals.
People started migrating from different regions within short span of time. Court house was built to bring a system into existence on the basis of law and order. The development of Mumbai faced several hurdles. He also developed Mumbai harbour to safeguard from pirates and establish Marine force. With upgrading trade and commerce, ship building industry began to build dockyards and boosted trade in salt, ivory, rice, cloth and swan blades.With the development of Mumbai, there were conflicts within and outside of India.
In 1972, Mughals found the opportunity and attacked Mumbai. The inhabitants were looted and ran towards the fort for safety. The attack didn’t go well for the company. Due to the attack, population density fell to a fraction losing their lives, demolished houses and devastated vegetation. Bombay became a miserable desert. Hence, men were sent to seek peace from Mughals at a great cost to the company. After the consequences of attack, Company built up a fleet to maintain peace along the west coast of India at Malabar for protection.
Over time, Bombay started to grow by creating security and offering employment. People with varies skills started migrating to start a new life. Bombay being a manufacturing city, goldsmiths to make jewellery, weavers for textile, and merchants to trade goods and workers for various industry and factories contributed to the development and economy of the city. In due course, Bombay started trading all over India and beyond. Earlier, raw cotton was exported to England to manufacture into cloth. Pace of industrialization contributed to the manufacturing factories. Manual work started to operate with machine advancement, thus first cotton mill was opened. There was a boom in cotton and opium trade. Gradually the profits from the mills exceeded expectations to build more mills.
Over time, Mumbai became largest textile centre. This created more employment. Migration of people led to informal settlements. The city was expanding in its trade, transport and administration. Reconstruction of old houses was built within the fort and also along the north where inhabitants built their homes and shops. Due to various activities in the city, better framework of regulations and funds were introduces for economic growth. British’s transformation in economic system and overseas commerce changed system of production. Raw materials became essential for growing industries and finished goods. Bombay port activities include break points for the long distance vessels from Europe to south East Asian regions.
The rapid changes in the economic activities vast number of people came from different regions. Hence, it is necessary to acquire administrative set up for efficient public services. In 1865, Municipal Corporation was created to the Justice of Peace by giving special powers by the Act of Parliament. The problems of drainage and water supply, transport and housing were undertaken by both Government and Municipal Corporation.With these advancements, the increasing population initiated for development pattern to join all the islands together. Housing was a major problem and the administrative had a difficult time providing shelter for the huge population. The city swamps were also prevented from being flooded at high tide by uniting the seven islands into one large island. The proposal of William Hornby Vellard was rejected by the East India Company.
Mumbai’s growth and development is a process of land reclamation resulting in spatial infrastructure routes between reclaimed and original islands. Early causeways provided linkages across thane creek, harbour and the western coast. These linkages gained potential infrastructure, commerce and housing. The construction of Mumbai’s rail network beginning from Central railway to Victoria Terminus and western railway concludes to Churchgate Station. Due to major activities concentrated outside the fort area, the further growth to improve congested conditions and an important factor to grow the town outside the limits of the Fort was the fire of 1803. Bombay expanding in its trade and commerce influx of migrants came across India. Hence, more space is needed.
The connection of islands was essential, thus a series of causeways started by draining creeks. The hill tops on the seven islands were demolished and the debris was used to fill the gaps between the islands that create a large sea-wall embankment. It was named as Hornby Vellard Project which blocked worli creek sealing the Great breach (Breach Candy) between Dongri, Malabar hill and Worli. Many causeways were built to connect like Salsette to Sion and Mahim to Bandra. Colaba causeway connected colaba, Old Woman’s Island and other small islands. The surrounded hills were razed to fill uo around railways lines and land masses. Backbay reclamation established Marine Drive, Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade over the garbage of the city illegaly dumped into the Arabian sea. These reclamations took over 150 years. Huge amounts of sand were dredges and rocks blasted off the hills were quarried for this large scale engineering work of merging islands. Over a period of time, Supreme Court realized to slow down the process of reclamation to protect the shoreline and fishermen. Mumbai gradually lost its prominence of industrial centre due to pressure in war. Though continues to be the main service centre of the country.
Culture and traditions of Mumbai are diverse with mixture of religions. Advancements in due course led to urbanization and globalization with modern technology and standard of living. Development plan of Mumbai is improvised with connectivity, livability and public amenities. Historically in its development, outward expansion was balanced with inward growth. Thus after city’s evolution, there was diminishing interventions of outward growth to suffice the inward growth. Today, with the massive shifts in demographics; the city has to have greater ability to survive on account of the adaptability of its flexible parts.
