Mumbai

HISTORY

The seven islands that form Mumbai were originally home to communities of fishing colonies. The islands were ruled by successive kingdoms and indigenous empires before the arrival of Portuguese settlers. They were ceded to the Portuguese by The Treaty of Bassein on December 23, 1534

At the time, the cession of Mumbai (or Bombay as the place was named then) appeared to be of minor consequence. It gained a crucial importance when the place passed from the Portuguese to the English in 1661 as part of the dowry of the Portuguese Catherine of Braganza, when she married King Charles II.

In 1687, the English East India Company transferred its headquarters from Surat to Bombay. Following the transfer, Bombay was placed at the head of all the Company's establishments in India. as a result,  Bombay began to grow into a major trading town, and received a huge influx of migrants from across India

Ships in Bombay Harbour (c. 1731). 

Bombay emerged as a significant trading town during the mid-18th century. The Hornby Vellard was a project to build a causeway uniting all seven islands of Bombay into a single island with a deep natural harbor. The project was started by the governor William Hornby in 1782 and all islands were linked by 1838. Along with construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project, completed in 1845, transformed Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea.

The Mumbai Stock exchange is the oldest exchange in Asia. Its history dates back to 1855, when five stockbrokers would gather under banyan trees in front of Bombay's Town Hall.

Bombay's first horse-drawn bus made its début on May 9, 1874. The service was operated by the Bombay Omnibus Service Limited, and it had two routes: Colaba Causeway to Pydhone via Crawford Market, and Bori Bunder to Pydhonie via Kalbadevi. The initial fare was three annas (15 paise), and no tickets were issued. As the service became increasingly popular, the fare was reduced to two annas (10 paise).

The horse-drawn bus service was a major innovation for Bombay, and it helped to make the city more accessible to its residents. The service was also a financial success, and it helped to pave the way for the development of other forms of public transportation in Bombay.

Mahatma Gandhi tried to establish a law practice in Bombay in the 1890s, but had limited success. At the time time, the legal profession was overcrowded in India, and Gandhi was not a dynamic figure in a courtroom.

The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay from December 28-31, 1885.

During the early 20th century Bombay became a strong base for the Indian independence movement.

First session of the Indian National Congress in Bombay 

Upon India's independence in 1947 the city was incorporated into Bombay State.

Bombay/Mumbai, being located on the coast, is vulnerable to cyclones and storms. The region has experienced severe cyclones and devastating flooding in its history. One such significant event was the Great Bombay Cyclone of 1948. On November 18, 1948, a powerful cyclone struck the city, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The exact number of casualties is not known, but it is estimated to have been in the thousands.

In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as the capital.

The Government of India officially changed the English name to Mumbai in November 1995. The name Mumbai is derived from Mumbā or Mahā-Ambā—the name of the patron goddess (Kuladevi) Mumbadevi of the native Agri, Koli and Somvanshi Kshatriya communities. It means "mother" in the Marathi language, which is the official language of Maharashtra.

The temple of local Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, from whom the city of Mumbai derives its name. By Magiceye Wikipedia

Mumbai received 99.5 cm of rain (39.17 inches) within 24 hours on July 26, 2005 bringing the city to a halt for over two days. The floods that followed killed over 5,000 people, over 100,000 people were displaced and it caused billions of dollars in damage. The floods were caused by a combination of factors, including a monsoon storm that stalled over Mumbai and the city's poor drainage system. 

FUN FACTS

Mumbai is the most populous city in India and the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world, with an estimated metropolitan population of 23.6 million.

The Mumbai Suburban Railway system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any urban railway system in the world.

It has the highest GDP of any city in South, West, or Central Asia.

Mumbai accounts for 25% of industrial output, 40% of sea trade, and 70% of capital transactions to India's economy.

Mumbai, gateway to India

Bollywood, the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai, produces around 150–200 films every year. The name Bollywood is a blend of Bombay and Hollywood.

Mumbai, contains 41 leopards in a forest inside the city and the leopard population saves Mumbai US$18,000 by keeping the stray dogs population in check.

Breathing in Mumbai for one day is equivalent to smoking two and a half packs of cigarettes.

Dabbawalas are a team of couriers that deliver 200,000 hot meals a day to offices in Mumbai. With an error rate of one in 6 million, they're the most efficient delivery system in the world.

There are more curry houses in London than in Mumbai.