My Heritage Chronicles

Juma Masjid, also known as Jumma Masjid (Friday Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in the city of Mumbai. Its present location is in the busy market junction in the Kalbadevi area near Crawford market. But this was not always the location. Initially, it was constructed at Dongri near Crawford market but then it was shifted on the Esplanade road outside the fort walls. Due to its proximity to the fort walls,  objections were raised by then-governor William Hornby, so it was again shifted back near Crawford market at Kalbadevi and constructed over 27 years period starting from 1775. The Masjid is built on a large reservoir and open land which was owned by a Konkani Muslim family of Mohammed Ali Roghay who was a philanthropist and prominent citizen of Bombay. He laid down conditions that the water tank will need to be preserved while constructing the Masjid. Hence even today there exists a water tank on which 16 arches have been built which acts as a foundation for the two and a hal...

Mangaldas market - a century-old market is one of the busiest and oldest markets in South Mumbai known as a wholesale cloth center. Such is the popularity of the market that 100 small shops which line the narrow lanes inside had a daily footfall of over 100,000 people (pre-covid). My curiosity to know more about the person "Mangaldas" lead me to this interesting story about this wealthy family. Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai (1832 -1890) was the first Hindu to have received a knighthood from the British. The famous cloth market and a street in old Bombay have been named after him. Mangaldas Nathubhai came from a trading (Bania) family of Kapole Bhatias, He was the biggest benefactor to Mumbai University and had helped several charitable institutions. It is said that the great grandfather of Sir Mangaldas, Manordas Rupji Dhanji (1727-92) was a Hindu banker and merchant while his father Rupji Dhanji was one of the earliest traders from the village of Ghogha near Diu to have settled in...

East Indian community traces its roots to the 15th -16th century when the Portuguese took control over Salsette island and the seven islands of Bombay. From the first arrival of the Portuguese on Indian shores in 1498 and on Bombay shores in 1509, they encouraged intermarriages with local inhabitants. Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits spearheaded the evangelization of the local community and built churches and monasteries. From Bandra to Vasai, the Bombay coastline is dotted with small fishing villages which had come under Portuguese influence and today are dominated by East Indian Christians though other communities like Kunbi, Agri, Bhandari community who were also the original inhabitants do reside in these villages. The influence of the Portuguese can be still in architecture, cuisines, language as well as churches. I have been fascinated with old churches, village square cross as well as grottos that we see in villages where East Indian communities reside. For this particular post,...