The Community Website of the Original Inhabitants of Bombay

The East Indians

The East Indians are the original residents of BOMBAY (Mumbai). These Original Inhabitants used to call island of Bombay in their dialect as Mobai and not Mumbai.

The Area constituting the villages of East Indian Community are the former seven islands of Bombay (given to the British as a dowry by the Portuguese in ), the former island of Salsette (ruled by the Portuguese, till the Marathas defeated them, and gifted this to the British), Thana, Bassein (Vasai), Chaul, and parts of Raigad.

1765 Bombay Plan of Bombay and it's Vicinity (1703) Bench of Rocks Isle of the Old Women Marine lines of France and of England Canara Coast Elephanta Island Chaul Island Caronja Island Cross Island Island of Jesuites Salsette Island The Mansion Fort Amglois Rocks Water Rocks under Water Bench of Sand Boucher Island Church of Pere Poloremo Bombay island

(Using Internet Explorer : Please point you mouse over the names to get the translation )

Above is the Plan of Bombay and it's Vicinity (1703) which is a sea route map of the island of Bombay (consisting of seven smaller islands), the island of Salsette and the Island of the Jesuites (Jesuites is an order of Roman Catholic Priests), the Island of Caronja and the Island of Chaul.

The above map of Bombay and it's vacinity drawn in the year 1703, coincidently demarcates the entire region of the East Indian Community of Bombay. This is one of the innumerable proofs of Christianity existing and thriving in Bombay and it's surroundings from the earliest of times.

There are many ancient writings quoting people in the East Indies who live along the Canara Coast, who have the knowledge of Christ and its teachings. The importance of this website is the information that the aborigines of the metropolitian Bombay, comes from humble and hardworking people who solely because of their faith have been sidelined in the development of Bombay. It is being done in such a way that all traces of the East Indian Community and their villages are being wiped out, surely but steadily. It always is in the guise of Development.

Proofs of Apathy and Persecution :

  1. Airport land of Bombay (Sahar) not being returned to the East Indians, despite a written promise of the British to use this only for the 2nd World War and latr return this with damages, if any. This has not yet been returned, on the contrary, the current expansion plan (2009) is to wipe away the surrounding villages and destroy a century old Church.
  2. Dispersing the entire population of East Indians in Manori, Gorai and Uttan by making a fertile cultivating land as a SEZ (Special Economic zone). The East Indians have made many protests and petitions, but are being disgarded. While most do not get permission to build citing CRZ (Costal Regularized Zone), the Judicial College was allowed to be constructed (2009). Similarly a huge Pagoda for Vipassana has been built flouting CRZ rules and was built by destroying mangroves.As if these are not enough, a dumping ground dsposal has been setup at Uttan, creating fould stench and is a major health hazzard.
  3. The name of Bombay was deemed to be changed to Mumbai, because of so-called demand of the local people. The local People (the East Indians) use to called the island of Bombay,....Mobai. This too was not for the whole of Bombay but to that specific Island.
  4. FSI: The various govenments and governemnt machinery have given extra FSI to slum dwellers, who in fact are illegal and encroachers. Most slums development get FSI of 4, so Hotel developments have been given FSI of 7. The original People of Bombay, the East Indians living in Gaothan are given an FSI of only 1.5. The rampant and arrogant misuse of liberal FSI has created a corrupt BMC, who do not take care of the pressure on infrastructure.
  5. BMC permissions are based on new housing, where constructions should leave space around the property and should be road touched...etc. However, the gaothans being villages were not planned based on this new housing policies, these gaothan houses have been here for centuries, however, no law is being made to ensure that there is a parity for these gaothans to self sustain and survive in their own city.