Mumbai History dates back to Emperor Ashoka who ruled the Indian subcontinent in the 2nd century B.C. Mumbai city as it stands today is a reclamation of seven islands Colaba, Mahim, Matunga-Sion, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Parel, and Wadala.
After centuries of Hindu rule the group of islands were possessed by the Muslim rulers of Gujarat in 1343. After about two hundred years, the Portuguese settlers forcibly occupied Mumbai in 1534. The area was handed over to Jesuit priests for occupation. The prominence of Roman Catholic Churches bear testimony to this fact. Santa Annas Church, and Mount Mary Church are two such churches.
The British in Mumbai
On his marriage to Princess Catherine of Braganza of Portugal, King Charles II of Britain received this group of seven islands as dowry in 1662. Subsequently in 1668, East India Company took lease of these islands for 10 gold pounds payable annually. Mumbai named after 'Mumbadevi' a deity of the local Kolis, was transformed to Bombay by the British.
The first British Governor General of Bombay was Sir George Oxenden succeeded by Mr. Gerald Aungier. Mr. Aungier attracted Parsi ship-builders, the Gujarati traders, and Muslim and Hindu craftsmen from Indian mainland to grow settlements in this island group.
Significant changes were brought about during the rule of British Governor Sir Robert Grant from 1835 to 1838. He developed road connections between Mumbai with its hinterland. The Causeways of Colaba and Thane were built during his regime. The
Grant Medical College, now belonging to the J. J. Group of Hospitals,
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was also established during his governance.
The first Indian railway line of 21 miles between Mumbai Victoria Terminus and Thane was opened in 1853 on 16th April. In 1860 the Great Indian Peninsular, the Bombay Baroda, and the Central Indian Railways started operations. The 1861 American Civil War and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 had far reaching effects on the economy of Bombay. Cotton trade between India and Europe through Bombay increased manifold. Within 100 years the population of Bombay increased from about 645000 in 1872 to around 978000 in 1906.
Mumbai in the 20th century
Mumbai witnessed far flung developments during the 20th century. The City Improvement Trust was set up by Lord Sandhurst. As a mark of reverence the Trust in 1910 built the Sandhurst Road . Thereafter in 1921, the Sandhurst Road railway station was constructed. In 1915 the Port Trust Railway opened the Wadala Ballard Pier railway line. Petrol and kerosene installations came up in Wadala and Sewri respectively. The Tata Power Company erected the first overhead electric power transmission lines also in 1915.
In 1942 on the 7th of August the session of All India Congress Committee began in Gowalia Tank Maidan. In this session Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for "Quit India". This Gowalia Tank Maidan has been renamed the "August Kranti Maidan".
Another significant event in the history of Mumbai is the Mumbai blast on 7th July 2006. Seven blasts
occurred at Khar, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Mahim, Mira Road, Marunga, and Borivali railway stations between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm, that claimed 174 lives, and left thousands injured.
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