The Parsis Migrate To British Era Bombay, 1812 Print
An 1812 print of a Parsi family in British Era Bombay (Mumbai). The Parsis are to be credited for what Bombay is today. The seven islands of Bombay was gifted to King Charles II as part of the dowry on his marrying Catherine of Braganza of Portugal. Finding the islands of little use the King leased it out to the British East India Company in 1661.
Because of its strategic location and for its natural harbour the British seized the opportunity to take over the islands from the Portuguese. They built a fort on the “H” shaped island, called Bombay. A small Portuguese fortification existed there, enlarging it further the British named it Fort George.
The reclamation project began in 1782 to unite the seven islands and completed by the 1840s. To populate the new united landmass East India Company encouraged skilled communities from the nearby provinces to settle down in Bombay. Thus the Parsis where the first of the communities to migrate in large numbers from Surat to the new city.
They where skilled in ship building, repairing, trading and so on. The Parsis were allowed to build their tower of silence on the rocky wilderness of Malabar Hill, where many eventually settled down. Originally from Iran, where they followed the ancient Zoroastrian faith, they migrated to Surat in the 9th century AD.
So they were in a sense the first of the great waves of middle eastern people who were to help form Bombay. Today, its cosmopolitan progressive culture owes a great deal on the contribution of the Parsi community. Where they made their name as brilliant financiers and traders. A wealthy and talented community that has produced several leading industrial houses, such as the Tatas, Godrejs and the Wadias.
Did you know – in the great migration even foreign communities like the Jews, Armenians, Japanese, Europeans, etc, settled down around the Fort area.
past posts – Vintage Photo Bangalore British Regiment Parade 1928., Vintage Photo Buick Cars In Madras 1929.
