History of Mumbai

Till the 17th century Mumbai (earlier know as Bombay) was a combination of seven small islands in the Arabian Sea. Koli fishermen were the first inhabitants who developed their villages and settlements along the cost of Mumbai. Their goddess was Mumbadevi, on whom the city received its name Mumbai.

Portuguese Rule

Hindus, Buddhist and Muslim rulers ruled the greater Bombay region. However it is only after Vasco da Gama of Portugal landed at Calicut in 1498 that Bombay witnessed dawn of development. The Portuguese acquired the 7 island from the Sultan of Gujarat in the year 1534 in exchange for military support. They setup their capital at Bassein and controlled the island for more than a century and converted thousand to Christianity in and around Bombay.

Portugal gifted Bombay to King Charles II

The King of Portugal gifted the islands to King Charles II of England in the year 1661, This was marriage gift to King Charles II on his marriage with Portuguese princess (Catherine of Braganza). King Charles II further leased the island to the then East India Company. The company then fortified the island to protect it against any foreign attack.

7 island merged into one Mumbai

The British connected the island by building several causeways and undertook multiple reclamation to bring the islands together to form one land.
India Independence

The Municipal Corporation was established in 1872 and the Bombay Port Trust in 1873.
Bombay (currently Mumbai) developed as India’s financial center for trade and industries. They continued up to 1947. This is the year (1947) when India attained Independence from British rule.