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Questions and Answers
What percentage of the island’s population resided in one-room tenements according to the Census of 1901?
What percentage of the island’s population resided in one-room tenements according to the Census of 1901?
What was a common reason for workers sharing homes in tenements?
What was a common reason for workers sharing homes in tenements?
What type of activities did neighborhoods in tenements accommodate?
What type of activities did neighborhoods in tenements accommodate?
Who sometimes acted as the local neighborhood leader in mill neighborhoods?
Who sometimes acted as the local neighborhood leader in mill neighborhoods?
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What was a key issue faced by the 'depressed classes' concerning housing?
What was a key issue faced by the 'depressed classes' concerning housing?
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What did the City of Bombay Improvement Trust focus on after its establishment?
What did the City of Bombay Improvement Trust focus on after its establishment?
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What significant event in 1661 contributed to British control over Bombay?
What significant event in 1661 contributed to British control over Bombay?
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What was a significant factor that influenced town planning in Bombay?
What was a significant factor that influenced town planning in Bombay?
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Which year marked the establishment of the first cotton textile mill in Bombay?
Which year marked the establishment of the first cotton textile mill in Bombay?
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What was the percentage of Indians living in urban areas in the early twentieth century?
What was the percentage of Indians living in urban areas in the early twentieth century?
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What role did community gatherings serve in the chawls according to the recollections of Parvathibai Bhor?
What role did community gatherings serve in the chawls according to the recollections of Parvathibai Bhor?
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What role did Bombay primarily serve in the nineteenth century regarding trade?
What role did Bombay primarily serve in the nineteenth century regarding trade?
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What proportion of Bombay's inhabitants between 1881 and 1931 were born in the city?
What proportion of Bombay's inhabitants between 1881 and 1931 were born in the city?
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What percentage of the textile mill workforce were women between 1919 and 1926 in Bombay?
What percentage of the textile mill workforce were women between 1919 and 1926 in Bombay?
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Which significant administrative change occurred in Bombay in 1819?
Which significant administrative change occurred in Bombay in 1819?
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What change occurred to women's employment in Bombay's textile mills by the late 1930s?
What change occurred to women's employment in Bombay's textile mills by the late 1930s?
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What caused a significant influx of people into Bombay in 1888-89?
What caused a significant influx of people into Bombay in 1888-89?
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What was the average space available per person in Bombay compared to London in the 1840s?
What was the average space available per person in Bombay compared to London in the 1840s?
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What percentage of working people lived in the densely populated chawls of Bombay?
What percentage of working people lived in the densely populated chawls of Bombay?
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Which railway was NOT mentioned as part of the major railways in Bombay?
Which railway was NOT mentioned as part of the major railways in Bombay?
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What was a common feature of the chawls in Bombay?
What was a common feature of the chawls in Bombay?
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How did the housing crisis in Bombay evolve during the mid-1850s?
How did the housing crisis in Bombay evolve during the mid-1850s?
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Which demographic primarily resided in the 'native' town of Bombay?
Which demographic primarily resided in the 'native' town of Bombay?
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What prompted district authorities to send people back to their places of origin during the plague epidemic of 1898?
What prompted district authorities to send people back to their places of origin during the plague epidemic of 1898?
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What was the effect of the Rent Act passed in 1918 on the housing situation in Bombay?
What was the effect of the Rent Act passed in 1918 on the housing situation in Bombay?
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Which organization successfully undertook a significant reclamation project between 1914 and 1918?
Which organization successfully undertook a significant reclamation project between 1914 and 1918?
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What was a major consequence of the massive reclamation projects in Bombay?
What was a major consequence of the massive reclamation projects in Bombay?
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By what year had the city of Bombay expanded to approximately 22 square miles?
By what year had the city of Bombay expanded to approximately 22 square miles?
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What prompted the formulation of several reclamation plans in the mid-nineteenth century?
What prompted the formulation of several reclamation plans in the mid-nineteenth century?
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What nickname is commonly associated with Bombay, reflecting its image in cinema and culture?
What nickname is commonly associated with Bombay, reflecting its image in cinema and culture?
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What impact did the overcrowding and living conditions in Bombay have on its film industry?
What impact did the overcrowding and living conditions in Bombay have on its film industry?
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Which of the following was a significant early reclamation project initiated in Bombay?
Which of the following was a significant early reclamation project initiated in Bombay?
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What year was Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatwadekar's film shot in Bombay's Hanging Gardens?
What year was Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatwadekar's film shot in Bombay's Hanging Gardens?
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Which film did Dadasaheb Phalke direct that significantly contributed to Hindi cinema?
Which film did Dadasaheb Phalke direct that significantly contributed to Hindi cinema?
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How many people were employed in the Bombay film industry by 1987?
How many people were employed in the Bombay film industry by 1987?
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Which of the following cities was especially significant for the development of the Hindi film industry?
Which of the following cities was especially significant for the development of the Hindi film industry?
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What does the lyric ‘jiska juta usika sar’ from the song in Guest House imply?
What does the lyric ‘jiska juta usika sar’ from the song in Guest House imply?
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What significant environmental issue was exacerbated by urban development in industrial cities?
What significant environmental issue was exacerbated by urban development in industrial cities?
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Which writer is NOT associated with Hindi cinema according to the content?
Which writer is NOT associated with Hindi cinema according to the content?
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What was a characteristic feature of urban life in industrial cities like Leeds and Manchester in the nineteenth century?
What was a characteristic feature of urban life in industrial cities like Leeds and Manchester in the nineteenth century?
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What was a significant challenge in controlling smoke emissions from factories during the 1840s?
What was a significant challenge in controlling smoke emissions from factories during the 1840s?
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Which city first implemented smoke nuisance legislation in India?
Which city first implemented smoke nuisance legislation in India?
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What was one of the primary contributors to air pollution in Calcutta?
What was one of the primary contributors to air pollution in Calcutta?
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What impact did the introduction of the railway line in 1855 have on Calcutta’s air quality?
What impact did the introduction of the railway line in 1855 have on Calcutta’s air quality?
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What was one of the outcomes of the Smoke Abatement Acts of 1847 and 1853?
What was one of the outcomes of the Smoke Abatement Acts of 1847 and 1853?
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Why was it difficult to control domestic smoke compared to industrial smoke in Calcutta?
Why was it difficult to control domestic smoke compared to industrial smoke in Calcutta?
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What was a common perception of Calcutta despite its pollution issues?
What was a common perception of Calcutta despite its pollution issues?
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How did the high ash content in Indian coal affect air quality?
How did the high ash content in Indian coal affect air quality?
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Study Notes
Bombay: The Prime City of India?
- In the 17th century, Bombay was a group of seven islands under Portuguese control.
- In 1661, control of the islands transferred to British hands after King Charles II's marriage to a Portuguese princess.
- The East India Company moved its base from Surat to Bombay.
The City in Colonial India
- Indian cities did not grow significantly in the 19th century, contrasting with Western Europe.
- Urbanization was slow under colonial rule; only 11% of Indians lived in cities in the early 20th century.
- The three Presidency cities (multi-functional cities with major ports, warehouses, homes, offices, army camps, educational institutions, museums, and libraries) housed a large proportion of urban dwellers.
- Bombay emerged as the premier city, expanding rapidly from 644,405 in 1872 to nearly 1,500,000 in 1941.
Bombay's Role
- Initially, Bombay was a major outlet for cotton textiles from Gujarat.
- In the 19th century, the city became a crucial port for raw materials like cotton and opium.
- It gradually evolved into an important administrative center in western India, and later, a significant industrial hub.
Bombay: Work and Expansion
- Bombay became the capital of the Bombay Presidency in 1819 after the Maratha defeat.
- Its growth was linked to the cotton and opium trade, which attracted traders, bankers, artisans, and shopkeepers.
- The establishment of textile mills in 1854 led to increased migration to Bombay.
- By 1921, 85 cotton mills operated with about 146,000 workers.
- A significant portion of Bombay's population, from 1881 to 1931, migrated from outside Bombay.
Women and Migration
- Women constituted as much as 23% of the mill workforce between 1919 and 1926, declining to less than 10% by the late 1930s.
- Women's jobs were increasingly taken over by machines or men.
- Bombay was a major hub for maritime trade in India throughout the 20th century.
- It was a junction point for two major railway lines (the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and South Indian Railway).
- These railways promoted migration to the city.
- Famines and epidemics (like the plague in 1898) led to forced migration; some were even sent back to their places of origin.
Housing and Neighbourhoods
- Bombay was a densely populated city.
- By 1872, the housing density in Bombay was 20 residents per house, compared to 8 in London.
- Early Bombay houses were interspersed with gardens (especially in the Fort area).
- The Fort area was divided into a 'native' town (where Indians lived) and a European/white section.
- A European suburb and industrial zone developed north of the Fort, with a similar suburb in the south.
Housing Challenges
- The rapid and unplanned expansion created housing and water supply crises by the mid-1850s.
- Wealthier Parsis, Muslims, and upper-caste traders lived in expansive bungalows; the majority worked in densely populated chawls (multi-story tenement buildings).
- Many chawls were built in the 1860s in native areas owned and managed by private landlords.
- Tenants often shared very small one-room tenements with no private toilets.
- Families resided in tenements in large numbers and had to share living spaces with relatives or caste fellows, even in humid weather.
Urban Planning
- The Bombay Improvement Trust focused on relocating the poor from the city center in 1898.
- By 1918, though 64,000 people were displaced, only 14,000 had been rehoused.
- A rent act in 1918 had the unintended consequence of creating a housing crisis.
- Expansion faced limitations due to land scarcity and required large-scale reclamation projects.
Land Reclamation
- The seven islands were linked into a single landmass over time.
- The earliest reclamation project began in 1784, with the construction of the Great Sea Wall.
- Numerous reclamation projects followed, as the need for commercial space grew, and private companies, too, became involved.
- Reclamation often involved leveling hills around Bombay.
- The Back Bay Reclamation Company reclaimed territory from Malabar Hill to Colaba in 1864.
- The Bombay Port Trust, in collaboration with the 22-acre Ballard Estate, built a dry dock.
- Marine Drive benefited from land reclamation efforts.
Bombay as the City of Dreams: The World of Cinema and Culture
- Bombay's film industry is internationally recognized.
- Film songs and themes often reflect the city's contrasts (dreams and realities).
- Early films demonstrated the experiences of migrants in the city, as well as its contradictory aspects.
Cities and the Challenge of the Environment
- City development often came at the expense of the environment, leading to pollution from factories, institutions, and refuse.
- Industrial cities like Leeds, Bradford, and Manchester suffered from significant air pollution due to coal use and factory chimneys.
- Smoke and waste products were common problems; skies were frequently grey.
Addressing Pollution
- Early efforts to tackle air pollution focused on legislation but often failed to create significant change.
- Factory owners and steam engine owners were reluctant to adopt cleaner technologies.
- Smoke abatement acts were implemented but often were ineffective.
Calcutta's Environmental Issues
- Calcutta had historical air and pollution issues, often resulting in thick smog.
- The city's location on marshy land exacerbated these problems.
- A population dependent on dung and wood as fuel contributed to the problem.
- The construction of the railway system and increased use of coal from Raniganj compounded the air pollution problems.
- The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Commission finally introduced legislation to control industrial smoke.
Conclusion
- Bombay's attraction stemmed from its opportunities for freedom and advancement, regardless of its drawbacks.
- The city's challenges were often a reflection of the processes of urbanization and social change.
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Description
Explore the rich history of Bombay, from its origins as a group of islands to its rise as a premier city during colonial India. This quiz covers key events, demographic changes, and Bombay's role in trade, particularly in textiles. Test your knowledge about this dynamic city through the centuries.
