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From Bombay to Mumbai India is a land of mystery and intrigue—so many sights, sounds, and smells (some good and some not so good). Though poverty is extreme in many parts of the country, the people are amazing as they go about their daily lives. There is so much to find out about India’s history and culture. You can spend a lifetime and still not discover all its secrets. Come join us as we explore Mumbai. Mumbai’s History In 1534, seven islands located off the west coast of India were ceded to the Portuguese and named Bom Bahia, meaning “the good bay.” The islands, with their lush green vegetation and breathtaking views of the sea, were both beautiful and desirable. They grew in importance and became a vital trading center catching the eye of the British. They called it Bombay because they were unable to pronounce the Portuguese name correctly. In 1661, the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza gave the seven islands to her future husband King Charles II of England as part of her marriage dowry. A number of years later, the British East India Company leased the seven islands from Charles. Though the British had a strong presence in India since the 1700s, their official rule lasted from 1858 to 1947. The British influence can still be seen in the architecture, education and transportation systems, and politics. In 1995, the name was officially changed to Mumbai after the Shiv Sena political party came into power. They felt “Bombay” was too representative of British colonialism and wanted the city to reflect its Maratha heritage instead. The name Mumbai does that by paying tribute to the goddess Mumba (or Mumbadevi). According to one of the various legends, Mumbadevi was an eight-armed goddess sent by Lord Brahma (creator of the universe and all beings) to vanquish an evil demon known as Mumbaraka who was terrorizing the local people. After the defeat, the goddess took his name and vowed to protect all who lived on the island. The most fascinating thing of all is how the archipelago of seven islands were connected and merged into one land mass. This process occurred over a span of five centuries, resulting in what is now the modern city of Mumbai. The islands were physically united through a series of land reclamation projects with the first project taking place in 1708. At this time a causeway was built between two of the islands. (A causeway is defined as an elevated road or railway usually erected over a body of water or wetland.) Over the centuries, additional causeways between other islands were built. In addition, some of the hilltops making up the seven islands were leveled, and the debris was used to fill in the gaps between the islands. The reclamation process has not been without problems. The Mahim River flowing through Mumbai was no longer able to empty into the Arabian Sea, and the drainage system of the city was compromised resulting in terrible flooding during monsoons. Today, Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is considered the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital of India. Its metro area is inhabited by approximately 22.05 million Mumbaikars (residents of Mumbai), making it the most populous city in India. Even more amazing is the fact that about one million people live in just one municipality of the city, known as Dharavi, which spans just about 535 acres (216.5 hectares). Discussion Starters • In Mumbai, people dwell in very crowded conditions. The average living space for each person is around 86 square feet (8 square meters). Would you be able to live somewhere with so many people and so little space? • India experiences more than its share of natural disasters including floods, earthquakes followed by tsunamis, cyclones, landslides, and droughts. Such occurrences have resulted in significant loss of life. How would you feel about living there? What natural disasters occur where you live? Some Trivia of India • India is the second most populated country in the world (after China), but it is only about 1/3 the size of the United States. • It is the largest democracy in the world, but it also has a long-established caste system, which seems at odds with the concepts of a democracy. • In India there are six seasons: summer, fall, winter, spring, summer monsoon, and winter monsoon. • Though more than a million Indians are millionaires, an estimated 35% of the population lives below the poverty line. • Cows are considered sacred and can be seen freely roaming the streets. • India is the birthplace of the game of chess. • Air pollution is a significant problem in India. In fact, it tops the world in terms of bad air quality. The city of Delhi is the worst, and Mumbai comes in fourth. • The concept of shampooing was invented in India. The earliest shampoo was made from herbs, and the word itself comes from champu, which means “to massage.” • One of the most popular games in the world is Snakes and Ladders. It was invented in India as a way to teach young children a moral lesson about karma (reaping what you sow). Hindus and Buddhists believe your actions in this life determine what happens to you in your next life. • Though India has the largest postal network in the world, it is not unusual for a letter to take up to two weeks to travel just 30 miles. • India’s national animal is the Bengal tiger. Today, there are fewer than 4,000 of these magnificent animals in the wild. • During the British reign, cricket was introduced to India and is now its favorite sport. • The majority of people in India are Hindu (about 80%) with Muslims following at approximately 13%. India has the world’s third largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan. • If attending a Hindu wedding, you will notice marigold flowers are used in the decorations. Marigolds are considered a symbol of happiness and good fortune. Hindu brides traditionally wear red at their wedding. And for funerals, it is tradition to wear white. Under the heading of “sad, but true,” it is said that more people in India have access to a phone than they do to indoor plumbing. Discussion Starters • Do you think it would bother you to be wealthy in a country where there is so much poverty? What are some of the things you might do to help those less fortunate than you? • Do you think you could adjust to living without indoor plumbing? • Have you ever played or seen the sport of cricket? What do you think of it? What is Bollywood? While most of us are familiar with the movie mecca in California known as Hollywood, India actually has the world’s largest movie industry located in Mumbai. The name Bollywood is a take on the name Hollywood, starting with a B for Bombay rather than an H. The term was first coined in the 1970s. Here are some interesting things about Indian cinema: • Indian cinema is not new—it celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2013. • The first entirely Indian-produced film, Raja Harishchandra, was released in 1913. In the first films, the parts of women were played by men. • In the year 2013, a record number of 1,724 feature films were released. Most films are released on Fridays and are three hours long with an intermission. • Indians buy 2.7 billion movie tickets annually, the highest in the world and about 14 million people a day attend the cinema. Average ticket prices are among the lowest in the world, so revenues are a fraction of Hollywood’s. • Indian movies are shown in more than 90 countries, with North America generating 25% of Bollywood’s overseas revenue. • The Kapoors are Bollywood’s largest screen family. In fact, they set a Guinness World Record with 24 people from the extended family working in the industry. • Romance and action films became popular in India in the 1960s, and gangster films emerged as fan favorites in the mid-1970s. • Bollywood is a term often used for the whole of India cinema, but it actually just applies to the Mumbai-based film industry. • Indian films are primarily musicals. The songs are usually recorded by professional singers and the actors lip-sync the words during filming. • The highest-grossing Indian film of all-time was the 2009 movie 3 Idiots. It brought in a worldwide gross of approximately $80 million. Discussion Starters • Have you ever seen a movie made in India or featuring India? If so, what was it and what was it about? Did you enjoy it? (Examples: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Slumdog Millionaire, The Darjeeling Limited) • Can you name any popular actors from movies or television who are of Indian descent? (Examples: Ben Kingsley—Gandhi, Freida Pinto—Slumdog Millionaire, Kunal Nayyar—Big Bang Theory, Mindy Kaling—The Office) What’s There to See and Do in Mumbai? First and foremost are the people—so many people everywhere you go. The women are beautiful in their colorful saris (SAR eez), and the men generally can be seen wearing shirts and pants, either long or to the knee, and the occasional turban or other forms of head coverings. In our travels in Mumbai we saw smiling, gracious people going out of their way to greet us and make our visit enjoyable. Here Are Some of the Highlights: Colaba Causeway If you love to shop then the Colaba Causeway is a must-see stop on your Mumbai tour. The causeway is a land link between Colaba and Old Woman’s Island and is close to the heart of the city.