Mumbai, formerly Bombay, city a potpourri of many com-

is the capital of the Indian munities and cultures.

state of Maharashtra and the
financial capital of India.
With an estimated popula-
tion of thirteen million, it
is the most populous city in
the world. Along with the
neighbouring suburbs of
Navi Mumbai and Thane, it
forms, at nineteen million, the
world’s fifth most populous
metropolitan area. Mumbai
lies on the west coast of India
and has a deep natural har-
bour. Mumbai’s port handles
over half of India’s maritime
cargo.
Mumbai is the commercial
and entertainment centre
of India, generating 5% of
India’s GDP and accounting
for 25% of industrial output,
40% of maritime trade, and
70% of capital transactions
to India’s economy. Mum-
bai is one of the world’s top
ten centres of commerce by
global financial flow, home
to important financial insti-
tutions such as the Reserve
Bank of India, the Bombay
Stock Exchange, the National
Stock Exchange of India and
the corporate headquarters
of many Indian companies
and numerous multinational
corporations. The city also
houses India’s Hindi film and
television industry, known as
Bollywood. Mumbai’s busi-
ness opportunities, as well
as its high standard of living,
attract migrants from all over
India and, in turn, make the
Mumbai is India’s largest
city. It serves as an important
economic hub of the coun-
try, contributing 10% of all
factory employment, 40% of
all income tax collections,
60% of all customs duty col-
lections, 20% of all central
excise tax collections, 40% of
India’s foreign trade and Rs.
40 billion (US$ 800 million)
in corporate taxes. Mum-
bai’s per-capita income is Rs.
48,954 (US$ 980) which is
almost three times the nation-
al average. Many of India’s
numerous conglomerates (in-
cluding State Bank Of India,
Tata Group, Godrej and Reli-
ance), and four of the Fortune
Global 500 companies are
based in Mumbai. Many for-
eign banks and financial in-
stitutions also have branches
in this area, the World Trade
Centre (Mumbai) being the
most prominent one. Until
the 1980s, Mumbai owed its
prosperity largely to textile
mills and the seaport, but the
local economy has since been
diversified to include engi-
neering, diamond-polishing,
healthcare and information
technology. Mumbai is home
to the Bhabha Atomic Re-
search Centre, and most of
India’s specialized, technical
industries, having a modern
industrial infrastructure and
vast, skilled human resource.
 THIS IS MUMBAI
With myriad, multi hued
faces
Mumbai.
City of a thousand epithets,
City of dreams
City that never sleeps……..
City of contrasts
Glittering, glitzy, glamor-
ous
Slum infested, sweltering,
sordid
Large hearted, balmy, gre-
garious
A tumultuous city…
Slithering snakelike along
the Arabian Sea.
Her spirit shining
Like the light of a million
stars
Where naked, grubby chil-
dren
with leaky noses,
play in the filth and gravel,
at the side of traffic signals,
as mothers rock their ba-
bies in
plastic cradles, on pave-
ments.
Across
Their glowing, pampered
kindred
look out from swank cars,
playing with their Ninten-
dos.
Welcome
Dressed in branded clothes,
which dad bought in yes-
terday,
From his business trip to
Europe
to
Like a temptress of many
moods
At day she is an angel, free
and light.
MUmBAI She lets you be…. She lets
you live…
This Mumbai,
PLACES TO VISIT
Gateway of India
What could be more appropriate a be-
ginning than the ‘entrance’ to the port
of Mumbai? The ceremonial arch was
built in 1927 to Commemorate the visit
of King George V and Queen Mary for
the Delhi Durbar in 1911.
Haji Ali Mosque
This early 18th century shrine contains
the tomb of HAZRATH HAJI ALI, a
Muslim Sufi saint. There are two local
legends which claim to trace the haz-
rath’s antecedents.
Town Hall
With its columns and tall Grecian
porticos, this structure has been the
foundation of the Library Society of
Mumbai which moved into the Town
Hall in 1830, soon after which a union
was effected with the Royal Asiatic
Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
University Buildings
Founded by Sir Cowasjee Jehangir
Ready money, after whom is named
the earlier of the two structures, was
designed by Sir Gilbert Scott.
Bombay High Court
This blue-basalt building in early
English Gothic style was designed by
Col. J. A. Fuller. It has central tower
standing almost 180 ft.
YEH HAI
Sir J. J. School Of Art
Built during the same period as the
University, its importance is heightened
by the fact that Rudyard Kipling was
born and spent his early childhood here.
Crawford Market
MUMBAI
MERI
Rechristened as Mahatma Phule
Market, it was built in 1871 by William
Emerson. The bas-reliefs, at a height,
adorning the facade, were designed
by J. L. Kipling at the School of Art, a
stone’s throw away. JAAN