The city of Mumbai was originally made up of seven small islands namely Bombay, Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli and Old Woman's Island (also known as Little Colaba).

Excavations from Kandivali have revealed that these islands were inhabited since the Stone Age. In the Third century BC, Mumbai was a part of Magadha Empire ruled by Ashoka. The Kanheri Caves, Elephanta Caves, Jogeshwari Caves and the Mahakali Caves date back to third century BC.

After the fall of Magadha Empire, Buddhist monks continued to reside on these islands. Deep-sea fishermen called the Kolis and salt makers called the Aagris were its chief inhabitants. The Koli goddess Mumbadevi lent her name to the modern metropolis which etymologically means Mumba (the goddess' name) and devi means mother in Marathi language.

The early inhabitants of the seven islands were cavemen, later the Kolis, fisher folk came to inhabit the island followed by the Bhandaris or palm tappers, the Kunbis or agriculturist and the Oheds or menials.

As early as 1000 BC the Aryans settled in the Indus valley and western India and started trade from Salsette, present Kalyan. Bombay was a part of the Moryan Empire under the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka. During the period of Satavahana Kings, trade with foreign countries increased tremendously. The most important centers of trade were Salsette (Kalyan) and Broach (Bharuch in Gujarat).

The trade was developed with Greeks, Scythians, Parthians etc. The Saavahana Kings could not hold on to Bombay for a long time because the Maurya and Chalukya dynasties came up successively as great powers. The present Elephanta Caves previously named Mangalpuri was their capital. Later, Bombay came under the Silhara Dynasty which extended from 810 to 1260 AD. After this Bombay fell into the hands of Raja Bhimadeva who had his capital at Mahikawati which was around the present day neighbourhood of Mahim and Prabhadevi.

Colonial Era

The Portuguese in Mumbai: The Portuguese arrived in India in 1498 and appropriated the west coast for their establishments. Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Bombay and captured it. The Portuguese were becoming a force to be reckoned by 1560.

They were impressed by the Bombay Harbour and forced Sultan Bahadur Shah to hand over Bassein and its neighbouring islands to them. So in 1534, Bassein and the nearby areas including Bombay were ceded to Joao, King of Portugal, according to the treaty signed between Sultan Bahadur Shah and the Portuguese. They named it Bombaim or Good Bay. These areas came under one Maestro, Diago.

The British in Bombay: In 1661, King Charles II of England received ‘Bombay’ as port of the dowry and he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. In 1668 it was handed over to the East India Company. East India Company shortly moved their main holdings from Surat to Bombay. George Oxenden was the first governor of Bombay.

The British built forts, huge custom houses and other buildings in the period, but the real development of the city began around 1857, the year of Sepoy Mutiny.

In 1858 by a special proclamation, the administration of the country itself was taken over by the queen of England, “Queen Victoria”, from the company. A Victoria was appointed to rule the country in the name of the Queen. Politically Bombay came under the direct rule of British and this period marked the tremendous growth of Bombay.

In 1861, Central India Railway opened its first section with the opening of the Broach (Bharuch) and Barod (Vadodara) lines. The year 1864 marked the beginning of modern water supply. The Indian National Congress was formed in Bombay in the year 1865. Bombay played an important role in the political affairs of the country after the entry of Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 in the Indian politics.

Catherine de Braganza