The history of Mumbai recounts the growth of a collection of seven islands on the west coast of India, becoming the

commercial capital of the nation, and one of the most populous cities in the world. Although human habitation existed since the Stone Age, the Kolis, a fishing community, were the earliest known settlers of the islands. The Maurya Empire gained control of the islands during the 3rd century BCE, and transformed it into a centre of Hindu and Buddhist culture and religion. Later, between the 2nd century BCE and 9th century CE, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous dynasties: Satavahanas, Abhiras, Vakatakas, Kalachuris, Konkan Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas, before being ruled by the Silharas from 810 to 1260. King Bhimdev established his kingdom in the region in the late 13th century, and brought many settlers to the islands. The Muslim rulers of Gujarat captured the islands in 1348, and they were later governed by the Gujarat Sultanate from 1391 to 1534. The Treaty of Bassein between the Portuguese viceroy Nuno da Cunha and Bahadur Shahof the Gujarat Sultanate placed the islands into Portuguese possession in 1534. Charles II of England received possession of the islands in 1661 as part of the dowry ofCatherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal, and leased them to the English East India Company in 1668. The islands suffered incursions from Mughalstowards the end of the 17th century. During the mid-18th century, the city emerged as an important trading town, with maritime trade contacts with Mecca and Basra. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century with the first-ever Indian railway line beginning operations between Mumbai and neighbouring Thane in 1853. The city became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century and was the epicentre of the Rowlatt Satyagraha of 1919 and Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946.[1] After India's independence in 1947, the territory of Mumbai Presidency retained by India was restructured intoMumbai State. The area of Mumbai State increased, after several erstwhile princely states that joined the Indian union were integrated into Mumbai State. In 1960, following protests from the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, the city was incorporated into the dominion of the newly created Maharashtra State from Mumbai State. The city's secular fabric was torn apart in the communal riots of 199293, while the bombings of 1993 caused extensive loss of life and property. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1996. Mumbai has suffered several terrorist attacks during the 21st century.

The redevelopment of Mumbai's cotton mills is a process that commenced in 1992, whereby the numerous cotton mills that once dotted the landscape of Mumbai, India, were demolished and replaced by new residential and commercial buildings, as part of the wider modernization of Mumbai. India United Mill, Parel district one of the larger cotton mills and also one of the few to be owned by the government. Contents [hide]

1 The cotton mill era and its decline 2 List of mills in Mumbai 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit]The cotton mill era and its decline The mills of Girangaon were once integral to Mumbai's economy, particularly during the British colonial period, when Mumbai (then

known as Bombay) was often referred to as the "Manchester of the East".[1] However, with the passing of time and the development of industry in and around Mumbai, these mills ceased to be profitable, and fell into a state of disrepair. In the first half of the nineteenth century, India exported cotton to Britain, and then reimported the textile. In 1820 the total textile import cost only Rs. 350,000. However, these costs escalated tremendously until in 1860 textile imports stood at Rs. 19.3 million. The impetus towards the founding of a cotton industry came from Indian entrepreneurs. The first Indian cotton mill, "The Bombay Spinning Mill", was opened in 1854 in Bombay by Cowasji Nanabhai Davar. Opposition from the Lancashire mill owners was eventually offset by the support of the British manufacturers of textile machinery. The cotton mills of Bombay, and the rest of India, were owned and managed mainly by Indians. The initial investments came from families of the mill-owners, mainly obtained from trading. Later, when shares became available to the public, much of the ownership still remained Indian of the 53 mills in the city in 1925, only 14 were British-owned. The management and directorships of these mills were also mainly Indian; of the 386 directorships recorded in 1925, only 44 were English. By 1870 there were 13 mills in Bombay. Cotton exports grew during the American Civil War, when supplies from the USA's cotton plantations were interrupted. At the end of 1895 there were 70 mills; growing to 83 in 1915. A period of stagnation set in during the recession of the 1920's. In 1925 there were 81 mills in the city. After World War II, under strong competition from Japan, the mills declined. In 1953 there remained only 53 mills in the city.[2] Abandoned machinery at Madhusudan mills, Lower Parel Gradually, the government relaxed its norms that once restricted

mill lands from being redeveloped, and as a result, numerous high profile builders jumped at the opportunity of grabbing hold of these land parcels. Between the period from 1990 to 2010, majority of these mill lands were acquired and redeveloped. The list below shows the names of the former mills that once existed, and the structure that currently stands on the land today. Phoenix mills, Parel which is now a shopping mall Lodha World One, the World's tallest residential tower, Lower Parel [edit]List of mills in Mumbai Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Name of former mill 1. Kohinoor Mills No.3 (North) Location Dadar(W) New Development Kohinoor Mill Mall[3]

2. India United Dye Works India International Trade Prabhadevi no.6 (North) Center 3. Elphinstone Mills (South) 4. Jupiter Mills (South) 5. Shree Madhusudan Mills (South) 6. Jam Mills 7. Sitaram Mills 8. New Hind Textile Mills 9. Kohinoor Mills no.1 Lalbaug Mahalaxmi Byculla Dadar (E) MHADA MCGM MHADA No development Elphinstone Indiabulls Finance Centre and Indiabulls Sky Suites

Lower Parel Indiabulls Sky[4]

(North) 10. Kohinoor Mills no.2 (North) 11. Tata Mills (North) 12. Mumbai Textile Mills (Sakseria Mills) 13. Sun Mills Compound 14. Digvijay Mills 15. Apollo Mills (South) 16. India United Mills no.4 17. India United Mills no.2 18. India United Mills no.3 Dadar (E) Dadar (E) No development No development

Lower Parel DLF Place Lower Parel Zenzi Mills Club / Lokhandwala Victoria

Kalachowki No development e Mahalaxmi Lodha Bellissimo/Primero

Kalachowki MHADA e Kalachowki MCGM e Kalachowki MCGM e No development No development

19. India United Mills no.5 Byculla 20. Gold Mohur Mills 21. Poddar Processors (Edward Mills) Dadar

Lower Parel Indiabulls Bleu

22. India United Mills no.1 Parel/Curre No development (North) y Road 23. Finlay Mills Parel Lodha

24. Poddar Mills 25. New City of Bombay Mfg Mills

Mahalaxmi

No development

Kalachowki No development e

26. Western India Spinning Kalachowki No development & Weaving Mill e 27. Swadeshi Mills 28. Standard Mills 29. Matulya Mills 30. Phoenix Mills 31. Modern Mills Kurla Prabhadevi Swadeshi Garden Sheth Beaumonde and Chaitanya Towers

Lower Parel Sun Palazzo Lower Parel High Street Phoenix Jacob Circle Mahindra Belvedere Court

32. Hindoostan Spinning & Jacob Circle Raheja Vivarea Weaving Mills No.1 33. Hindoostan Spinning & Jacob Circle Kalpataru Heights Weaving Mills no.2 34. Ruby Mills Dadar Ruby Corporate Park

35. Hindoostan Spinning & Weaving Mills no.3 (Crown Prabhadevi Orchid Crown Mills) 36. Bombay Dyeing (Spring Mills) 37. Victoria Mills Dadar Lower Parel Spring Mills tower Victoria House (Commercial) & Car park

38. Gokuldas Morarjee Mills no.1 39. Swan Mills 40. Mafatlal Mills no.3 41. Khatau Makanji Spinning & Weaving Mills 42. Century Spinning & Weaving Mills 43. Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Company 44. Prakash Cotton Mills 45. Shriniwas Mills 46. Kamala Mills 47. Shree Ram Mills 48. Gokuldas Morarjee Mills no.2 49. Dawn Mills 50. China Mill compound 51. Piramal Spinning & Weaving Mills 52. Raghuvanshi Mills 53. New Great Eastern Spinning & Weaving Mills

Parel Sewri

Ashok Towers[5] Ashok Gardens[6]

Lower Parel Marathon Futurex Jacob Circle No development Worli Worli Worli Century Bazaar Hard Rock Caf[7] / ICC Bombay Realty No development

Lower Parel World One Lower Parel Kamala City Worli Palais Royale, Mumbai

Lower Parel Peninsula Corporate park Lower Parel Peninsula/Piramal Project Sewri Lower Parel Dosti Flamingos[8] Marathon Nextgen by Marathon Group

Lower Parel K-lifestyle Byculla No development

54. Simplex Mills 55. Bradbury Mills 56. Mafatlal Mills no.1 57. Mafatlal Mills no.2 58. Mukesh Textile Mills 59. Bharat Mills 60. Ambika Mills 61. New Islam Mills

Jacob Circle Planet Godrej Jacob Circle No development Byculla Byculla Colaba Venue for Bollywood filming Behind Jeejamata Udyan

Lower Parel Indiabulls Bleu Worli Namaste Tower

Lower Parel One Avighna Park

A great transformation from port city to textile mills city in Mumbai at around 1980s was a boost to city economy. From then till now Dawn Nill at Lower parel, Zenzi mill, Phoenix mill, Kamla mills and other general mill industry was survival source to lakhs of mill workers in Mumbai, which is now converting to High rise buildings and commercial complexes.. Old Mills in Mumbai A Brief History 1854 was the year when Mumbai got its first mill called Bombay Spinning Mill famous for producing Cotton textiles to be exported to Britain. By 1870 there were about 13 mills and by 1875 total count of mills in Mumbai was about 70 which still went up to 83 by 1915. South Mumbai was the place selected to Major mill business which still has lots of old mills and industries which are now closed. Famous mill locations are Lower Parel, Parel, Lalbaug, Byculla. In 1982 about 2.5 laks mill workers went on strike againts Bombay Mill Owner Association with leader Datta Samant demanding wage increase.

 In 1991, State government announced Development Control Rule 58 which stated, Mill lands could be sold to others with some terms and conditions applied. National Textiles Corporation (NTC) is one which had about 25 mills owned in the city which started selling few mills to private businesses in 2005. And in 2006 Supreme court said that the sale of mills was legal and changes to the rules for developing mills was valid. Now in 2010 NTC made decision to start 3 of the old Mills which will help Mill workers for bread butter. Name and locations of same are Tata Mills at Hindmata, India United Mills Number 5 at Kalachowkie & Podar mills at Chinchpokli. Name of Some Mills in History of Mumbai Zenzi Mill, Finlay mill at parel, Kohinoor 1 and 2 mill at Dadar, Phoenix mill, Madhusudan Mills at Worli, India United no.6 at Dadar, Kamla Mill, Jam at Lalbaug, Sitaram, Podar Processing and Bharat Mill located at Worli, Dawn Mill, Sri Ram Mills, Tata Mills, Podar Mills, Bombay Spinning mill, Digvijay mills, The Khatau Mill at byculla, Jupiter mill, India United no.4 at Kalachowkie, Kohinoor Mill. Latest about Mumbai Mills and Workers There is Girni Kamgaar Sangharsh Samiti which is an organization which fights on behalf of Mill workers for there land and work as till date this workers stay in 100 sq ft houses in group of 8 to 10 workers adjusting as they work in shifts. The main location belt of Mills is Worli to Byculla area. People are demanding Mills back for wages and survival with the home near in same location. Government is taking steps and has announced 3 old mills to be re-opened and more to be started soon. Dutta Samant Dutta Samant Dr. Dutta Samant (also Datta Samant, and popularly referred to as Doctorsaheb, 1933-January 16, 1997) was an Indian politician and trade union leader, who is most famous for leading 200-300 thousand textile mill workers in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) on a year-long strike in 1982, which triggered the closure of most of the textile mills in the city. Contents

[hide]

1 Trade union and political career 2 1982 strike 3 Later life and murder 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit]Trade union and political career Samant grew up in Deobag on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, hailing from a middle-class Marathi background. He spent much of his early years in the locality of Ghatkopar in Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra. From the early 20th century, the city's economy was characterized by major textile mills, the base of India's thriving textile and garments industry. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over India were employed in working in the mills. Although a trained medical doctor, Samant was active in trade union activities amongst mill workers. Samant was deeply influenced by communism[citation needed], but he joined the Indian National Congress and its affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress. Gaining popularity amongst city workers, Samant name was popularly known as Doctorsaheb. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Mumbai-Thane industrial belt witnessed successive working class strikes and protests, with multiple trade unions competing for the allegiance of workers and political control. These primarily included George Fernandes, the Centre for Indian Trade Unions . Samant rose to become one of the most prominent INTUC leaders, and grew increasingly militant in his political convictions and activism. Samant enjoyed success in organizing strikes and winning substantial wage hikes from companies. He ignored the company's statistics and business information, and consistently refused to settle on compromise concessions. In 1972 elections, he was elected to the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha, or

legislative assembly on a Congress ticket, and served as a legislator. [1] Samant was arrested in 1975 during the Indian Emergency owing to his reputation as a militant unionist, despite belonging to the Congress party of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Samant's popularity increased with his release in 1977 and the failure of the Janata Party coalition, with which many rival unions had been affiliated. This increased his popularity and widespread reputation for putting workers and their interests before politics. [edit]1982 strike In late 1981, Samant was chosen by a large group of Mumbai mill workers to lead them in a precarious conflict between the Bombay Millowners Association and the unions, thus rejecting the INTUC-affiliated Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh which had represented the mill workers for decades. Samant was requested by mill workers to lead. He suggested that they wait for outcome of initial strike action. But workers were too agitated and wanted a massive strike. At the beginning of which an estimated 200,000 300,000 mill workers walked out, forcing the entire industry of the city to be shut down for over a year. Samant demanded that along with wage hikes, the government should scrap the Bombay Industrial Act, 1947 and derecognize the RMMS as the only official union of the city industry. While fighting for greater pay and better conditions for workers, Samant and his allies also sought to capitalize and establish their power on the trade union scene in Mumbai. Although Samant had links with the Congress, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi considered him a serious political threat. Samant's control of the mill workers made Gandhi and other Congress leaders fear that his influence would spread to the port and dock workers and make him the most powerful union leader in India's commercial capital. Thus the government took a firm stance of rejecting Samant's demands, and refusing to budge despite the severe economic losses suffered by the city and the industry. As the strike progressed through the months, Samant's militancy in the face of government obstinacy led to the failure of any attempts at negotiation and resolution. Disunity, mainly due to Shiv-sena trying to break strike and dissatisfaction over the strike soon became apparent, and many textile millowners began moving their plants outside the city. After a prolonged

and destabilizing confrontation, the strike collapsed with Samant and his allies not having obtained any concessions. The closure of textile mills across the city left tens of thousands of mill workers unemployed, and in the succeeding years the most of the industry moved away from Mumbai, after decades of being plagued by rising costs and union militancy. Mill owners used this opportunity to grab the precious real estate. Although Samant remained popular with a large block of union activists, his clout and control over Mumbai trade unions disappeared. [edit]Later life and murder Samant was elected on an independent, anti-Congress ticket to the 8th Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament in 1984; an election that was otherwise swept by the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi. He would organize the Kamgar Aghadi union, and the Lal Nishan Party, which brought him close to communism and Indian communist political parties. He remained active in trade unions and communist politics throughout India in the 1990s. He became a fierce opponent of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and remained aloof from the Congress. At the time of his death he was a not a member of parliament. On the morning of January 16, 1997 Samant was gunned down and murdered outside his home in Mumbai by four gunmen, believed to be contract killers, who fled on motorcycles. His death sparked protests across the city, and a large procession of union activists gathered at his cremation. On April 10, 2005 police arrested 3 men and charged them for Samant's murder. On October 30, 2007, his assassin, a thug working for underworld don Chotta Rajan, was himself gunned down by police in Kolhapur [1]. Samant's brother, Dada Samant, is a leader of the Maharashtra General Kamgar Union.