Mahim

Mahim
माहिम
Neighbourhood

Mahim Bay
Mahim
Coordinates: 19°02′06″N 72°50′24″E / 19.035°N 72.84°ECoordinates: 19°02′06″N 72°50′24″E / 19.035°N 72.84°E
Country India
State Maharashtra
Metro Mumbai
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is famous for its roadside food stalls, which become a bustling place after sunset. The Mahim railway station is in the Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, and Mahikawati.[1]

History

Former seven islands of Bombay

The name Mahim is derived from the ancient 'Mahimavati' meaning miraculous in Sanskrit. Mahim was one of the seven islands that originally made up Mumbai. Mahim, or Mahikawati as it was known, was the capital of Raja Bhimdev, who reigned over the region in the 13th century. He built a palace and a court of justice in Prabhadevi, as well as the first Babulnath temple.

Dargah of Mahimi in Mahim

In 1343, this island was possessed by the Muslims of Gujarat. It was in their reign that the old Mahim mosque was built. A dargah of Makhtum Fakir Ali Paru was built here in 1431.

In 1543, the Portuguese captured the islands of Mumbai. In 1662, these islands were given to the English King, King Charles II, as a part of the wedding dowry for the Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza. After British acquired Mumbai, they built the Mahim Fort here to protect themselves from the Portuguese. The fort today stands in ruins. But the Government is working on restoring heritage sites.

The causeway connecting Mahim and Bandra (corrupted from "Bunder" meaning port in Persian) was completed in 1845 at a cost of Rs. 1,57,000 donated entirely by Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, wife of the first baronet Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy with a stipulation that no toll would be charged to citizens for its use by the government.

In 1847, a small group of Scottish missionaries decided to start a new school, now one of the most high profile schools in Mumbai — the Bombay Scottish School

Geography

Bandra Worli Sea Link across Mahim bay.

Mahim is surrounded by Bandra in the north and the Arabian Sea in the west.

Schools and educational institutions

Mahim has a number of schools and educational institutions. Some of the well-known schools are Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, St. Michael's High School, Mumbai, Canossa Convent High School, Saraswati Mandir English Primary School, Saraswati Mandir High School, Victoria High School, KJ Khilnani High School, Iqra International School and R C Mahim School. Reputed colleges and professional educational institutes such as Ruparel College and St. Xavier's Technical Institute are also in Mahim.

Important landmarks

Mahim Bay

Mahim Bay is a large bay, part of the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, India. The southern end is Worli, northern end is Bandra Reclamation and Mahim is in the centre. The bay was named after the islands of Mahim and Salsette were merged in the early 19th century. The Mithi River drains into Mahim Creek which drains into the bay and forms the border between the city and its suburbs.

During the colonial era, the Portuguese built a watchtower called Castella de Aguada on the northern side. Later, the British built the Worli Fort to the south and Mahim Fort near the creek to defend the seven islands of Bombay against attacks by the Portuguese and the Marathas. The Bandra-Worli Sealink crosses Mahim Bay.

Mahim Creek

Mahim Creek

Mahim Creek is a 15 feet (4.6 m) deep creek in Mumbai, India. The Mithi River drains into the creek which drains into the Mahim Bay. It forms the boundary between the city and suburbs. The creek is swamped by mangroves and has a mini-ecosystem.

It now has the Bandra-Kurla complex with corporate offices on both its sides.

The waters of the creek are foul smelling due to the dumping of untreated industrial effluents upstream. In recent years, the mushrooming of slums around the waters have caused concern for the mangrove ecosystem, vital to the ecosystem of Mumbai.

In 2006, it was the site of mass hysteria as thousands claimed its waters had turned "sweet."

Mahim Causeway

The Mahim Causeway

The Mahim Causeway is a vital link road connecting the city of Mumbai with its northern suburbs. The causeway links the neighbourhoods of Mahim to the south with Bandra to the north.

The Mahim Causeway was built between 1841 to 1846 to connect the island of Salsette with Mahim. The swampy area between the two islands made travel dangerous and thus a need for a causeway arose. The British East India Company, who governed Bombay at that time, refused to fund the project. This led Lady Jeejeebhoy, wife of the first baronet Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, to donate the entire amount of INR157,000/- on the condition that the government would not charge a toll for its use or disturb the Koli community who lived around the area.[2]

The Mahim Causeway forms the link between Swami Vivekanand Road and L.J. Road, being the stretch between Bandra masjid and Mahim church (St. Michael's). It is not to be confused with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a major infrastructural project opened on June 30, 2009 which is designed to ease traffic across the causeway by building another bridge across the Mahim Bay.

The Mahim fort

Mahim fort

Mahim Fort, which was once visible from the Mahim Causeway and Bandra Reclamation, is barely visible now. The Mahim Fort along with Fort St George in South Mumbai was an important base during the time of the British Empire. Other forts in Mumbai and Salsette Island include Sion, Worli, Sewri and Mazgaon. The fort St George was built in 1669, by the former Governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier.

Thomas Grantham then strengthened the fort's ramparts in 1684. In the year 1772, 111 years after Bombay was taken from them, the Portuguese attempted to attack this fort. The British replied fiercely with cannonballs. The Bandra church also bore the brunt of their fire. There were about 100 soldiers and 30 cannons in the Mahim Fort at that time.

Today the fort is almost ruined and encroachers and hutments occupy it.

See also

References

  1. ↑ D'Cunha, Jose Gerson (1900). "IV The Portuguese Period". The Origins of Bombay (3 ed.). Bombay: Asian Educational Services. p. 265. ISBN 81-206-0815-1. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  2. ↑ Mahesh Dattani. Last Word&programId=1073754894&contentId=5758088 "A bridge with a difference".