Bombay otherwise known as Mumbai is a city with a rich history. The city has seen many changes over the last 500 years. Initially the city consisted of seven distinct islands separated by swamps. In the early 1500′s the Portuguese captured the islands and created a major shipping port. The Portuguese called the islands “good bay”, or Born Bahia. When the English inhabited the islands they referred to Born Bahia as Bombay.

In the early 1600′s more English start to inhabit Bombay. The English heard that the Portuguese use the port of Bombay to repair their ships. The English attack the port of Bombay and burned down the ships in the area. In 1662 King Charles II of England married Catherine Braganza. The father of the bride gave King Charles a large dowry. A major part of the dowry was Bombay which at the time was considered a Portuguese territory. The King was not very interested in Bombay. King Charles rented the islands to the East India Company for thirty pounds per year. The English continued to inhabit the major economic shipping port.

In the early 1800′s the swamps separating the seven islands were completely filled in creating one big island. In 1853 the first railroad opened in Bombay. The addition of the railroad created additional jobs and commerce in the area. To keep control over the commerce in the area a new government was created. Much of the new government was controlled by the English.

Bombay officially became Mumbai in 1995. In 1995 the right wing party called the Shiv Sena won the elections. They also presided over the state assembly and took control of the government. After the elections the right wing party renamed the city after the Hindu goddess Mumbadevi. The new ruling party thought the name Bombay was to English so they changed the name to Mumbai.Want to know more? Go ahead: I, Mumbai – by Krupa Vekaria