Mumbai, the city of dreams, the financial capital of India is now a center of industries, factories and comprises a major portion of the Indian corporate sector. Mumbai is not just about Vada Pav and Marine Drive or the romanticized monsoons shown in Bollywood movies. This hustling and bustling city has got people from all over the country living a fast-paced life to earn a livelihood. While the busy lanes of Mumbai remain occupied with traffic, the presence of colonial architecture in many corners of the city still echoes with tales of British rule in India. Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay, being a port city fostered the aims of the British. Bombay remained an iconic spot for political activity during the national movement. The role of Bombay in India’s independence cannot be overlooked.
When the independence movement was at its pinnacle, Bombay nurtured a diverse group of communities like it still does. When Gandhi arrived in Bombay in 1916, it was already a well-developed industrial city. It was quite different from Delhi and Calcutta. From Parsi traders to its Muslim merchants, across the busy, predominantly Hindu fishing communities and working-class mill compounds, from capitalists to communists and the peasants to the western-educated elite, Bombay was a patchwork of different identities. These different communities came together for one cause i.e. the independence of the nation.
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Bombay was a hub for political organizations, including the Indian National Congress and Muslim League. Influential figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Dadabhai Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, all resided in Bombay for a period.
Gandhi, particularly impressed by the city’s patriotism, lived there for seventeen years (1917-1934) at Mani Bhavan, a modest two-story building in the Gamdevi neighborhood. This house, owned by his friend Shri Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, served as the launching point for Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience, Satyagraha, Swadeshi, Khadi, and Khilafat movements. Gandhi not only participated in the Congress Working Committee meetings but also devoted his time to visiting Harijan neighborhoods throughout the city.
Designed by Claude Batley in 1939, Jinnah’s House on Mount Pleasant Road, Malabar Hill, served as the venue for significant Congress meetings, notably between Jinnah and Gandhi in 1944. Dadabhai Naoroji was one of the earliest leaders to demand self-rule and was also the first Asian to become a British MP. He had a strong base in Bombay. His work laid the groundwork for future movements. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, often referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Unrest,’ was based in Bombay and utilized the city as a platform to disseminate his nationalist ideas via his newspapers, Kesari and Maratha. Dr. Ambedkar’s advocacy in Bombay, particularly concerning the rights of the Dalits, was a significant component of the broader struggle for independence.
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The streets and beaches of Bombay buzzed with activity during processions and gatherings. When Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, throngs of people flocked to iconic spots like Chowpatty Beach, Sandhurst Road, the Sandhurst and French bridges, Girgaum Back Road, Madhav Baug, and the Grant Road Mosque, transforming them into vibrant hubs of resistance. Bombay was pivotal during the Civil Disobedience Movement. On April 6, 1930, a group of women led by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya marched to Chowpatty, Mumbai, and began making salt on chulhas. This act drew large crowds, prompting a police crackdown to disperse them. Despite the police action, more people continued to join. Eventually, the salt was packaged and sold in kiosks outside the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The involvement of the student community was a notable aspect of this movement. Congress leaders such as Shankarrao Deo and Yusuf Mehrali, the Mayor of Bombay, played key roles in raising awareness among the youth and encouraging their participation. A month prior to the passing of the Quit India resolution, Shankarrao Deo organized a meeting at People’s Jinnah Hall in Bombay on July 2, 1942. He informed the students and others about the upcoming movement, advising them to put their studies on hold and prepare to join the movement, which was expected to start by August 1. Deo anticipated that around 2,000 students out of Bombay’s total 10,000 should be ready for the struggle. The signs of the impending Quit India Movement were clear, and the response was swift.
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The students of Grant Medical College, Wilson College, Elphinstone College, Sydenham College, and St. Xavier’s College were prominently involved in the movement, as was anticipated. Reports from the Commissioner of Police highlighted that “a person named Arvind Mehta of the Bombay Students’ Union was responsible for distributing cyclostyled leaflets among the students.” These leaflets were meticulously crafted to galvanize the student community, urging them to participate actively in demonstrations and processions. The Congress Party workers demonstrated remarkable efficiency in coordinating with student leaders, who in turn played a pivotal role in rallying their fellow students to support the movement.
The famous Quit India Resolution was approved at the AICC meeting on August 8, 1942, at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, now known as August Kranti Maidan. This led to the historic start of the Quit India Movement. The slogan “Do or Die” became the driving force behind the movement, causing widespread unrest across the country. After Gandhiji and other leaders were arrested, and despite police warnings, a large crowd of 4,000 people gathered at the ground. In the absence of their leaders, Aruna Asaf Ali led the movement and raised the national flag at Gowalia Tank on August 9, 1942. The secret Congress Radio, set up by Usha Mehta, was also based in Bombay.
Hundred years of Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s protest at Bombay Town Hall.
After a long struggle for independence, India finally attained its independence from the British in August 1947. The departure of the British remains an iconic event in Indian history. On 28th February, 1948 the slow march on the streets of Bombay followed by the departure of the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry through the Gateway of India marked the departure of the last British troops on Indian soil. The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the Royal Visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 but now it symbolizes the landmark for departure of the British after 200 years of oppression and colonization.
While Mumbai is now immersed in its city lights, and glamour and is known for Bollywood, it is essential to remember the contributions and spirit of Bombay. The colonial buildings in Bombay still stand tall narrating the tales of Indian heroism and resistance. These structures serve as a poignant reminder of the city’s historical significance and the pivotal role it played in India’s struggle for independence. The Gateway of India symbolizes the end of the colonial era in India while the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as a silent witness to the freedom movement. As Mumbai continues to grow and evolve, it carries forward the spirit of Bombay—a spirit of determination, courage, and unwavering resolve. This historical consciousness not only honors the past but also inspires future generations to cherish and preserve their heritage.
Sources
Gulfnews.com; Mumbai played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle
amritmahotsav.nic.in
indianexpress.com; how the salad bowl of multicultural Bombay shaped the Indian independence movement
peepultree.world; Feb 1948: The British marched out of India
Ravinder Kaur Cheema; India’s Freedom Struggle: A response by the student community of Mumbai (1942-1947)
Gyan Prakash; Mumbai Fables; Princeton University Press
