Introduction
Mumbai is one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the world. It has a long history that dates back over 1500 years, though its most recent history is only about 200 years old. From a small fishing village on an island to a thriving city on India’s western coast, Mumbai has gone through many changes and challenges over the years. In this article we’ll explore Mumbai’s past by looking at its settlements (or lack thereof), Portuguese rule, British occupation, and modern industrialization—all events that have helped shape today’s metropolis into what it is today!
Mumbai’s History
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is India’s most populous city. It is also the second most populous city in the world, after Tokyo. Mumbai has been an important trading center for centuries, which dates back to when it was a small fishing village called ‘Bombay’. Today Mumbai has grown into a sprawling metropolis with over 20 million inhabitants and many skyscrapers that dominate its skyline.
The First Settlement of Bombay
The first settlement of Bombay was established by the Portuguese, who built a trading post here in 1534. The British followed suit and established their own trading post in 1668. The city quickly grew into one of India’s most important ports with ships from Europe and Asia docking there regularly.
In 1853, following its victory in the First Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805), Britain gained control over Bombay Island along with all other territories conquered by British forces from Marathas during this conflict. It was then decided that instead of returning these lands back to Marathas after conclusion of war as per terms agreed upon at Rajapur village between Sir James Grant Duff (Commander-in-Chief) representing East India Company on one side while Rajah Shahuji Bhonsle II represented himself along with other chiefs such as Jamadar Patta Bhandari etc., it would be better if we keep them under our control rather than hand over back into hands who were responsible for starting this war against us first place!
Portuguese Rule in Bombay
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in India. In 1510, they established a base in Goa and began trading with local merchants. They were also interested in finding new routes to China and Japan, which led them to establish a trading post on the island of Bombay (now Mumbai).
The Portuguese built Fort St. George on this island, which was used as both a fortification against enemies and an administrative center for their colonial government.
British Occupation of Bombay
The British East India Company was the first to occupy Bombay. In 1665, they built a fort on land that was leased from the Portuguese. The fort was named “Fort St George”, after their patron saint. They also set up an administrative body called the Bombay Presidency which comprised of five regions: Gujarat, Khandesh, Berar (later known as Nagpur), Marathwada and Dharwar.
In 1853, when India became a crown colony under Queen Victoria’s rule; Bombay became its capital city and thus began its glorious history as one of India’s most important metropolises!
Rise of Modern Industry in the 19th Century
- Industrialization in Mumbai started in the mid-19th century. The first cotton mill was built in 1854, followed by the first railway line and telegraph line a year later.
- A textile mill was also established in 1856, which marked the beginning of a manufacturing boom that would last until World War II (1939-1945).
Unrest and Reform Movements in the 20th Century
You might be familiar with the history of Mumbai, but do you know what happened in the 20th century? The first half of this century was marked by unrest and reform movements.
The growth of the Indian National Congress led to greater self-awareness among Indians and created a strong sense of national identity. Mahatma Gandhi emerged as one of its most prominent leaders during this period when he led several civil disobedience movements against British rule. His most famous campaigns were:
- Salt Satyagraha (1930-31) – where people marched from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi on India’s west coast to protest against taxes on salt production;
- Quit India Movement (1942) – which called for immediate independence from Britain;
Gandhi also formed alliances with Muslims to oppose discrimination against them by Hindus; this eventually led him into conflict with Hindu nationalists who wanted India for themselves only (Hindutva).
The Partition of India and Independence from Britain (1947)
In 1947, India was partitioned into two separate nations: India and Pakistan. The partition was a traumatic event that caused an estimated 1 million deaths and led to mass migrations of people from both countries. For Mumbai specifically, this meant that many Hindus moved from Pakistan back into India (including many who had previously been living there) or migrated from other parts of India to Mumbai.
Mumbai’s economy has changed drastically since independence. In 1947 it was largely dependent upon textiles manufacturing; today it is one of the world’s largest financial centers and home to some of India’s largest companies such as Tata Group (which owns Jaguar Land Rover), Reliance Industries Limited (an oil & gas conglomerate), Hindustan Unilever Limited (consumer goods company)
Today, Mumbai is one of the most exciting cities in the world.
It’s home to some of India’s largest companies and serves as its financial hub. The city also has a thriving cultural scene: there are numerous museums, galleries and theatres; it plays host to several festivals each year; and its culinary scene is renowned around the world (and especially among Indians).
Mumbai has long been known for its diversity; this was reflected by its original name–Bombay–which comes from an old Sanskrit word meaning “good bay.” Today’s population reflects this heritage with people from different ethnicities living side-by-side peacefully within its borders.
Conclusion
Mumbai is a city that has undergone many changes over the centuries. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village to its current status as one of the world’s most exciting cities, Mumbai has always been at the forefront of innovation and change. The people who live here today are proud of their history, but also eager to embrace new ideas as they shape tomorrow’s Mumbai together.
