January 24, 2012
Mumbai History
The history of Mumbai dates back to the Stone Age. Historians claim that the Kolis were the earliest inhabitants of this city. The present area of the city was earlier a cluster of seven islands (Mazgaon, Isle of Mumbai, Worli, Parel, Mahim, Colaba, and Old woman’s Land) on the western coast of India. Later, in 1784, all the islands were linked through causeways built under the Hornby Vellard project. The cluster was a part of the Ashokan (Mauryan) Empire. Later the city passed through the hands of many Hindu rulers such as the Satavahanas, Mauryas of Konkan, Kalachuris, Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas, and the Silharas. The famous Elephanta caves and the Vajreshwari caves were built between 6th and 8th centuries. In the 13th century during the reign of Bhimdev many settlers (Palshis, Pachkalshis, Bhandaris and vadvals) were brought to the city. King Bhimdev seems to have introduced many fruit trees and coconut trees.
The islands came under the rule of the Gujarat Muslims during the 13th and the 14th centuries. One of the monuments built during this period was the Haji Ali Durga on an islet in Worli. The last emperor of the Gujarat Sultanate happens to be Bahadur Shah. He gave up the ownership of Mumbai islands to the Portuguese in 1534 by signing the Treaty of Bassein. Later in the Portuguese rule many inhabitants were converted to Catholicism by the Portuguese. The Portuguese helped to establish an important trade route into the Indian Territory via Mumbai. In 1661, the Portuguese Princess Catherine married the King of England (Charles II). Mumbai was given to Charles II as a token of dowry. From then onwards the city fell into the hands of the British. In 1668 rule of Mumbai was transferred to the East India Company from the hands of Charles II. In the middle of the 16th century itself the Parsis started migrating to Mumbai to evade Islamic proselytization. By the end of the 18th century Mumbai had sheltered many settlers from various other parts of the world.
The company rule faced many internal attacks from the Dutch and the Maratha rulers. However it was successful in establishing Mumbai as a major trade center (for spices, salt, rice, ivory and cloth) next to Surat. By the end of the 18th century the British completely took over Mumbai by the native rulers. William Hornby the Governor of Mumbai (in 1782) undertook the mission to conjoin all the islands through causeways. The British introduced railway lines in India, and the first of such an attempt was done between Bombay (Victoria Terminus) to Thane in the year 1853. The Gateway of India was built in 1911 to commemorate the arrival of the British King George the 5th.
Later in the pre independence movement Mumbai had been the epicenter of many events. The first session of Indian nation Congress was held in Mumbai (1885). Following the boycott of the Rowlatt pact, and the Non cooperation movement the city witnessed rigorous protest to the British rule. Mumbai witnessed many calamites like the Plague epidemic and famine. The British ruled for more than 200 years over Mumbai. The last troupe of the British battalion went back in the year 1948. After independence the city was reorganized according to linguistic divisions by the Indian Government. Now, it has been recognized as a metropolitan city comprising of various cultures. It is a major center for art, culture, and trade.
The city had witnessed communal riots during the British period. Even after independence the city has become vulnerable to various sorts of illegal activities including terrorist activities. The well established Mumbai mafia has a story of its own. The city has witnessed a series of bomb blasts starting from 1993. In 2006 there was yet another serial bomb blast event occurred followed by a terrorist attack on the famous Taj hotel opposite the Gateway of India in the year 2008. Yet, the city has shown tremendous potentials to sail through all these calamities.
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