Salsette or Mumbai Suburban

Map- 1893

Salsette, Bandora, also known as Bandra, Tannah, also known as Thane, Kurla, or Kourla, Trombay, Mahim, and Colaba are the important areas. Bombay, also known as Mumbai, was made up of seven interconnected islands: Bombay Island, Little Colaba, Mahim, Parel, Worli, and Mazagaon.

The seven islands were combined into one landmass by the British over the course of several years of reclamations. joined in the north by the island of Salsette. Unquestionably a modern engineering masterpiece.

This 1893 map makes it clear that Mumbai’s reclamation was not yet finished.

It was interesting to note that various locations, such Mulund, Ghatkopar, and others, were either completely drowned, uninhabited, or neither existed.

This map shows two black railway lines: the B.B. & C.I. (Western Railway) and the G.I.P Railways (Central Railway).

Fig: 68

Map Source: https://www.past-india.com/photos_category/old-maps/page/2/, edited by: Author

Aden, Bombay, Madras & Calcutta-1910

Up until 1937, it was governed by British Indians, and from that point on, it was a British colony until 1963. Both land and maritime routes were used to travel from England to India before the Suez Canal opened in 1869. Passengers from England entered the Mediterranean Sea through Gibraltar and disembarked in Alexandria (Egypt), which was developed by the East India Company until 1858. As a result, until 1947, the entire nation was governed directly by the English Crown. Three significant Indian cities are shown on the map, and intriguingly, one of them is a foreign city. During the 19th century, the British were at the height of their dominance and reach. Aden also enjoyed a prime location alongside a shipping route linking Europe with India and the far east. They took control of Aden and made it a major port for the passage of steamers and a coaling station.

The map identifies the 3 major port cities of India. They were the ones facing the most influx during and post this era of growing haphazard developments here. All of these cities faced influxes of people at varied periods of time due to the opportunities they brought to the table.

Map Source: https://www.past-india.com/photos_ category/old-maps/page/2/, edited by: Author

Bombay Fort, Colaba, Malabar Hill Map-1924

This old map from 1924 shows places like Bombay Fort, Colaba, Malabar Hill, Girgaum, Byculla, and more. These were Bombay’s main centres during the British India era; Bombay is now known as Mumbai were a collection of seven islands that was combined into a single landmass through reclamation. Key landmarks like Malabar Hill, Girgaum (Girgaon), Kambala (Cumballa), Colaba, the Fort district, Victoria Dock, and others are noticeable.

The location of the Government House at the top of Malabar Hill is also apparent. The Government House is currently referred to as the Raj Bhavan. Bombay Castle’s location is also indicated on the map. Up until the middle of the nineteenth century, the castle served as the British government’s administrative centre in western India. The map was published by “John Murray, London.”

By this time, Bombay was the chosen one among the port cities in India for the most significant amount of development.

The existence of growing vicinities like Malabar Hill, Girgaon, Colaba signify the increasing influx in the city for various reasons studying which becomes crucial and interesting among the three port cities.

The nomadic life of the human species developed into civilizations with an emphasis on practising co-existence. The civilizations were born out of like-minded people strongly influenced by nature - right from considering it as their God, to using it for shelter and food. It could thus be believed that the oldest native community who settled and grew in Mumbai were the Kolis - an animist community that worshipped and used nature for their survival. Their dialect was Marathi and their occupation was the fishery.

But a naval officer K. R. U. Todd, when travelling to the city during the early 1930s, recovered microlithic implements in Versova, Manori, and Pali Hill, establishing a much earlier existence of human habitation in the region. Now known as Nalasopara, that piece of land was traced to be a busy port for trade with Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, which became the primary reason to attract Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire to the region, making Mumbai a cultural and religious centre for Buddhists.

These Buddhist relics are still visible in the form of inscriptions and sculptures in the caves of Kanheri and Mahakali.

These caves in certain regions have currently been encroached by the people of Mumbai, as seen in the Magathane complex of Borivali where people actually lived in caves, and were stated too late to be recovered by the Archeological Survey of India. The growth of the city has resulted in leaving the city with one cave less from its history.

Raja Bhim from Gujarat who is believed to have arrived on these islands (where he settled his capital in the region called Mahim, today) in the 13th century BCE found potential in the soils here and hence encouraged the cultivation of coconut palms and several fruit-bearing species on the islands. As a result, he contributed to the diversity of settlers here as the cultivation opportunities invited the Kunbis and Bhandaris, Yajurvedi Brahmins, and Pathare Prabhus to the islands ( main occupation- farmer or landlords).

Destroying Bhima’s capital, came in the Muslim invaders and missionaries from the Middle East in the 14th century who conquered over the entire North Konkan region.

Various regions here, including the set of islands, turned into a battlefield for the Hindus and the invading Muslims. They demolished old, native temples in Mumbadevi and Walkeshwar and churches, persecuting the local population there. Defeating the Hindu ruler there, the Sultan of Delhi won Mahim with an intention of maintaining Mahim as a military outpost. The Haji Ali Dargah was built in this era, specifically in 1431 AD which even today stands as a prominent landmark in South Mumbai.

The Konkani Muslims (Naitias) came from the Konkan coast to Mahim in this period and settled prominently in the Fort area.

But they had to get displaced to the Nagpada, Crawford Market area, and later to Pydhonie in order to stay protected from the political arrest of Tippu Sultan.

In 1498, when the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama discovered a sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope, the history of this Archipelago was about to change its course. After colonising Goa (which became their headquarters), the Portuguese aimed to conquer Diu. In this process, they enforced military pressure on Sultan Bahadur Shah when they visited Mahim. After being helped by the Portuguese military, Sultan handed over the seven islands of Bombay and the mainland of Bassein (now known as Vasai) through a treaty to them in 1534.

At this time, there were very few people living in Bombay.

Few of the prominent Occupational Communities then

Avital component of Mumbai, the Koli community has a long history and rich tradition. The Koli people of Mumbai first appear in written records in the 12th century. They were a coastal tribe who relied on the sea and creeks for their livelihood for millennia. The Kolis typically resided in “Koliwadas,” or “homes that open to the sea.” A sizable fish market is frequently found directly at the entrance to these communities.

The Koli community in Versova annually celebrates the event on a grand scale. This community has a rich cultural heritage. They invite the entire community to sample their traditional foods and learn about their culture by hosting a weekend seafood festival.

Many people have a bad picture of Koli people as an aggressive, unrepentant community that thrives on hostility because of the frequent interactions. However, the Koli community of indigenous fishermen has a long history. They were originally from the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

They now only exist in a few isolated areas, primarily Mumbai and Navsari in northwestern Maharashtra and southern Gujarat.

The Kholi community is extremely concerned about the rise in cyclone frequency and intensity that occurs in Mumbai every year. Without a question, now is a crucial time for the Koli fishing community’s existence.

Future success will depend on how it responds to and develops from the macro and micro variables affecting it in the rapidly changing world of today.

But in recent years, pollution and climate change have begun to alter the way of life for Mumbai’s long-standing fishing community.