Who built Bombay (now known as Mumbai)...? According to ancient history, a grouping of seven islands comprising Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion formed a part of the kingdom of Ashoka the Great of Magadh, ironically in North India . The seven islands of Mumbai passed through many hands, the sultans of Gujarat , the Portuguese and the British. Every ruler left behind proof of residence in Mumbai. The Mauryans left behind the Kanheri, Mahakali and the caves of Gharapuri more popularly called Elephanta. The sultans of Gujarat built the Dargahs at Mahim and Haji Ali, the Portuguese built the two Portuguese churches, one at Prabhadevi and the other St Andrews at Bandra. They built forts at Sion, Mahim, Bandra and Bassien. The Portuguese named the group of seven Islands 'Bom Baia', Good Bay . The British built a city out of the group of seven islands and called her Bombay . The original settlers of the seven islands, the Koli fishermen, worshiped Mumbaidevi, her temple still stands at Babulnath near Chowpatty. The Kolis called the island Mumbai, 'Mumba, Mother Goddess'. In 1662, King Charles II of England married the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza, and received the seven islands of Bom Baia as part of his dowry. Six years later, the British Crown leased the seven islands to the English East India Company for a sum of 10 pounds in gold per annum. It was under the English East India Company that the future megapolis began to take shape, after the first war for independence Bombay once again became a colony of the British Empire .
Thanks for the informative post. After reading the title , there is one dialogue from the recent telugu movie -Businessman that came to my mind. that is - "IF MUMBAI STARTS GIVING , THEN ITS KEEPS ON GIVING"
one of the most notable contributors to Mumbai and its economy is the Parsi community..who have been instrumental in building infrastructure, donating lands to govt agencies like the municipality, building ships, starting hospitals, orphanages, creating jobs and what not.... History has forgotten this but the first Parsi settler came to Bombay in 1640, he was Dorabji Nanabhoy Patel. In 1689-90, a severe plague epidemic broke out in Bombay and most of the European settlers succumbed to it. The Siddi of Janjira attacked in full force. Rustomji Dorabji Patel, a trader and the son of the city's first Parsi settler, successfully defeated the Siddis with the help of the Kolis and saved Bombay .He was, therefore, titled ‘Gendral’, a corrupt form of General. For two years (1690-1692) he kept sway over the City and was virtually the Governor of the City. Later he was made a Patel (hereditary title meaning 'chief' or 'lord' )by the British.
