History of Bombay in independent India

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populous cities in the world. Mumbai grew into a leading commercial center of India during the 19th century on the basis of textile mills and overseas trade.[1] After independence, the desire to domesticate a Marathi social and linguistic Mumbai to a cosmopolitan framework was strongly expressed in the 1950s.[2] Mumbai, one of the earliest cities in India to be industrialized, emerged as the centre of strong organized labour movement in India, which inspired labour movements across India.[3]

Background

Ships in Mumbai Harbour. Mumbai grew into a leading commercial center of India during the 19th century
Main article:
History of Mumbai under British rule

The

British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Mumbai was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town.[4]

An old map of Bombay

Mumbai was a native Fisherman Land of Marathi Speaking Kolis And Aagris grew into a leading commercial center of

Parsis, Gujarati Hindus, Muslims communities earning their wealth on the extensive Arabian trade. The expanding labour force in Mumbai was initially drawn from the coastal belt of Konkan
, south of the city. Until the 1940s, Marathi speakers from these areas accounted for 68% of the city's population, and held mostly jobs.

Bombay State

Main articles: Bombay Presidency and Bombay State
George Fernandes emerged as a key figure in the Bombay labour movement in the early 1950s

After

Bombay metropolitan region. It was converted into a township in 1949, and named Ulhasnagar by the then Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari.[6]

In 1947, Congress party activists established the Rashtriya Mazdoor Mill Sangh (RMMS), with a claimed membership of 32,000, to ensure a strong political base in the textile industry. The RMMS served as a lasting impediment to the free development of independent unionism in Bombay.[7] Economic growth in India was relatively strong during much of the 1950s, and employment growth in Bombay was particularly good, as the city's manufacturing sector diversified.[7] The Bombay textile industry until the 1950s was largely homogeneous, dominated by a relatively small number of large industrial mills. From the late 1950s, policies were introduced to curb the expansion of mills and to encourage increased production from the handloom and powerloom sectors, because of their employment generating capacities.[8] Bombay was one of the few industrial centres of India where strong unions grew up, particularly company or enterprise based unions, often in foreign owned firms.[7] A key figure in the Bombay labour movement in the early 1950s, was George Fernandes. He was a central figure in the unionisation of sections of Bombay labour in the 1950s.[8]

Bombay's

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, one of the finest institutions in the country in science and technology, was established in 1958 at Powai, a northern suburb of Bombay, with assistance from UNESCO and with funds contributed by the Soviet Union.[11][12]

Battle of Mumbai

Main articles: Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, Maharashtra, and Gujarat
Samyukta Maharashtra
movement. The Hutatma Chowk memorial with the Flora Fountain, on its left in the background

The desire to domesticate a

States Reorganisation Committee in its report to the Indian Government in 1955, recommended a bilingual state for Maharashtra–Gujarat with Mumbai as its capital. The Maharashtrians wanted Mumbai as a part of Maharashtra, since it had majority of Marathi speakers.[13] However, the city's economic and political elite feared that Bombay would decline under a government committed to developing the rural hinterland.[15] Mumbai Citizens' Committee, an advocacy group composed of leading Migrant Gujarati industrialists lobbied for Mumbai's independent status.[16]

In the

Chief Minister of Bombay State, made provocative statements on Mumbai.[18] Patil said that, "Maharashtra will not get Bombay for the next 5,000 years."[19] On 21 November 1955, violent outbursts erupted, and there was a total hartal in Bombay. Thousands of angry protesters converged at Hutatma Chowk with a view to march peacefully towards the Council Hall, where the State Legislature was in session.[20][21] The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, but when it failed, they finally resorted to firing, killing 15 people.[22] Under pressure from business interests in Mumbai it was decided to grant Mumbai the status of a Union territory under a centrally-governed administration, setting aside the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Committee report. On 16 January 1956, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, announced the government's decision to create separate states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, but put Mumbai City under central administration. Large demonstrations, mass meetings and riots soon followed. The Mumbai Police dissolved the mass meetings and arrested several of the movement's leaders. During 16 January–22 January, police fired at demonstrators protesting the arrests, in which more than 80 people were killed.[15][23][24]

The States Reorganisation Committee report was to be implemented on 1 November 1956. It caused a great political stir and, led to the establishment of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti (United Maharashtra Committee) on 6 February 1956.

Greater Mumbai The Congress suffered the same fate in Gujarat, winning only 57 out of 89 seats.[29] The Congress however succeeded in forming a government in Bombay State with the support of Marathwada and Vidarbha. Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister of the Maharashtra State.[25] In 1959, he headed a cabinet of 15, out of which 4 represented Gujarat, to discuss the future of Bombay State. Chavan managed in convincing Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, who was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1959, of the futility of the bilingual Bombay State, which was increasingly jeopardizing Congress prospects in Gujarat and Maharashtra.[30] Finally on 4 December 1959, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution recommending the bifurcation of the Bombay State.[31]

The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti achieved its goal when Bombay State was reorganised on linguistic lines on 1 May 1960.[32] Gujarati-speaking areas of Bombay State were partitioned into the state of Gujarat.[33] Maharashtra State with Mumbai as its capital was formed with the merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Bombay State, eight districts from Central Provinces and Berar, five districts from Hyderabad State, and numerous princely states enclosed between them.[34] In all 105 persons died in the battle for Mumbai.[35] As a memorial to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, as Hutatma Chowk (Martyr's Square), and a memorial was erected, since it was the starting point of the agitation.[36]

After the 1960 bifurcation, many Gujaratis left Mumbai feeling that they would be better-off in Gujarat than in Mumbai, and fearing that they would be neglected by the Maharashtra Government.[37] The Maharashtrians also blamed the Gujaratis for the death of the 105 martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.[15]

Rise of Regionalism

Bal Thackeray had established the Shiv Sena party in 1966
Main article: Shiv Sena

In the 1960s,the Marathi-speaking middle-class in Mumbai, who had been the most consistent supporters of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, felt threatened in Mumbai despite the creation of Maharashtra. This was mainly because of the increasing number of migrants competing with them for jobs.

Marwari communities owned majority of the industry and trade enterprises in the city, while the white-collar jobs were mainly sought by the South Indian migrants to the city.[39]

This was the line taken by Mumbai cartoonist and journalist

Muslims in India.[41] In the 1960s and 1970s, Shiv Sena cadres became involved in various attacks against the South Indian communities, vandalising South Indian restaurants and pressuring employers to hire Marathis.[39]

The creation of Navi Mumbai

Main article: Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai, the twin city of Navi Mumbai, was founded in 1979, to help the dispersal and control of Bombay's population

The need for urban development on the mainland across from Mumbai Island was first officially recommended in the 1940s. In 1945, a Post-war development committee suggested that areas should be developed on the mainland on the opposite side of the harbour to contain the future growth of the city. In 1947, N. V. Modak and Albert Mayer published their plan, stressing on controlled development of the city, suburbs, and its neighbouring cities like Thane, Vasai, and Uran.[42] In March 1964, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai submitted its development plan for Greater Mumbai,[43] which was criticized for various reasons,[44] but approved in 1967.[45] By that time, another plan had been developed by two of Mumbai's leading architects Charles Correa and Pravin Mehta, and an engineer Shirish Patel.[45][46] They suggested that a "twin city" of equal size and prominence to Greater Mumbai, would only be able to solve the city's congestion problems. Thus, the idea of the creation of Navi Mumbai was born.[46]

The proposed site for Navi Mumbai covered an area of 344 km2 (133 sq mi), integrating 95 villages spread over the districts of Thane and Raigad.[47]

21st century

11 July 2006 train bombings

During the 21st century, the city suffered several terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Terrorist attacks

Oberoi Trident hotel during the November 2008 attacks

November terrorist 2008 attacks

There were a series of

ten coordinated terrorist attacks
by 10 armed terrorists owing allegiance to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba using automatic weapons and grenades which began on 26 November 2008 and ended on 29 November 2008. The attacks resulted in 164 deaths, 308 injuries, and severe damage to several important buildings. Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai: at
Taj Hotel
and ended the attacks. Ajmal Kasab disclosed that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, among others. The Government Of India said that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their controllers were in Pakistan. On 7 January 2009, Pakistan confirmed the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a Pakistani citizen. On 9 April 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was granted bail against surety bonds of ₨200,000 (US$1,900) in Pakistan. [58]

Anti-migrant attacks

In 2008, members of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) under Raj Thackeray on attacked North Indian migrants from UP and Bihar and SP Party Workers in Mumbai.[59] Attacks included assault on North Indian taxi drivers and damage of their vehicles.[60]

Natural disasters

Mumbai was lashed by torrential rains on 26–27 July 2005, during which the city was brought to a complete standstill. The city received 37 inches (940 millimeters) of rain in 24 hours — the most any Indian city has ever received in a single day. Around 83 people were killed.[61]

References

  1. ^ Hansen 2001, p. 38
  2. ^ a b Hansen 2001, p. 37
  3. JSTOR 27768789
    .
  4. ^ "Bombay: History of a City". British Library. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  5. ^ *Census of India, 1961. Vol. 5. Office of the Registrar General (India). 1962. p. 23.
  6. ^ Alexander, Horace Gundry (1951). New Citizens of India. Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. p. 65.
  7. ^ a b c Hutchison & Brown 2001, p. 157
  8. ^ a b Hutchison & Brown 2001, p. 158
  9. ^ Hansen 2001, p. 39
  10. Mumbai Suburban District. Archived from the original
    on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  11. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    . Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  12. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    . Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  13. ^ a b Sharma 1995, p. 187
  14. ^ Economic and political weekly. Vol. 15. Sameeksha Trust. 1980. p. 1628.
  15. ^ a b c Hansen 2001, p. 42
  16. India after Gandhi. HarperCollins
    . pp. 197–8.
  17. ^ Guha, Ramachandra (13 April 2003). "The battle for Bombay". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ Phadke, Y. D. (1981). Senapati Bapat portrait of a revolutionary. Senapati Bapat Centenary Celebration Samiti. p. 86.
  19. ^ Indian Parliament; House of the People; Lok Sabha (1955). Lok Sabha debates, Part 2, Volume 10. Lok Sabha Secretariat. p. 2858.
  20. ISBN 978-81-250-0332-8
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  21. ^ Lok Sabha debates: Appendix, Issues 1-7. Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha. 1955. p. 68.
  22. ^ Indian Parliament; Lok Sabha (1955). Lok Sabha debates, Part 2, Volume 9. Lok Sabha Secretariat. p. 265.
  23. ^ Economic and political weekly. Vol. 15. Sameeksha Trust. 1980. p. 1628.
  24. ^ Bernard, Jean Alphonse (2001). From raj to the republic: a political history of India, 1935-2000. Har Anand Publications. p. 189.
  25. ^ a b "Samyukta Maharashtra". Government of Maharashtra. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  26. ISBN 978-81-7764-856-0
    .
  27. ^ Sharma 1995, p. 188
  28. ^ Sharma 1995, p. 189
  29. ^ Sharma 1995, p. 190
  30. ^ Sharma 1995, p. 191
  31. ^ Sharma 1995, p. 183
  32. ^ "Sons of soil: born, reborn". Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai). 6 February 2008. Retrieved on 12 November 2008.
  33. ^ "Gujarat". Government of India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  34. ^ "Maharashtra". Government of India. Archived from the original on 5 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  35. ^ Phadke, Y. D. (1979). Politics and language. Himalaya Publishing House. p. 155.
  36. ^ Desai, Geeta (13 May 2008). "BMC will give jobs to kin of Samyukta Maharashtra martyrs". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  37. ISBN 978-0-86132-067-7
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  38. ^ Hansen 2001, p. 45
  39. ^ a b c "Sena fate: From roar to meow". The Times of India. 29 November 2005. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  40. ^ Hansen 2001, p. 46
  41. ^ Hansen 2001, p. 50
  42. ^ Shaw 2004, p. 63
  43. ^ Shaw 2004, p. 64
  44. ^ Shaw 2004, p. 65
  45. ^ a b Shaw 2004, p. 66
  46. ^ a b Shaw 2004, p. 67
  47. ^ "To the Present". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  48. ^ "Blast outside Ghatkopar station in Mumbai, 2 killed". rediff.com India Limited. 6 December 2002. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  49. ^ "1992: Mob rips apart mosque in Ayodhya". BBC. 6 December 1992. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  50. ^ "1 killed, 25 hurt in Vile Parle blast". The Times of India. 28 January 2003. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  51. ^ "Fear after Bombay train blast". BBC. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
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  53. ^ "2003: Bombay rocked by twin car bombs". BBC. 25 August 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  54. ^ "At least 174 killed in Indian train blasts". CNN. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  55. ^ "India: A major terror target". The Times of India. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  56. ^ "Rs 50, 000 not enough for injured". Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. 21 July 2006. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  57. ^ "India police: Pakistan spy agency behind Mumbai bombings". CNN. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  58. ^ "HM announces measures to enhance security" (Press release). Press Information Bureau (Government of India). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  59. Daily News & Analysis. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original
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  60. ^ "North Indian taxi drivers attacked in Mumbai". NDTV. 29 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  61. ^ "Maharashtra monsoon 'kills 200'". BBC. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2008.

Bibliography

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