Greek geographer Ptolemy once called these seven idyllic islands Heptanesia while the Portuguese dubbed it Bom Baim, or the ‘good little bay’ and enjoyed a diet of homegrown rice and corn. The Heptanesia Relief Map (1700-1800) lays before the reader the cartographic display of Bombay prior to the British takeover from the Portuguese and after. It depicts the territory that the king of Portugal subsequently bequeathed to the British Crown towards dowry for the marriage of princess Catherine of Braganza to Charles II of England. Maps of Worli Estates similarly illustrate central Bombay before the proliferation of textile mills and after. A fascinating contrast emerges between what was originally a sparsely populated marshland and a developing settlement. As writer Himanshu Kadam notes in his essay on Worli Estates, “The first Indian cotton mill, the Bombay Spinning Mill, was set up in 1854 by Cowasji Nanabhai Davar. By 1890, there were seventy mills employing 59,139 workers.” The mill culture fostered a unique community life in Bombay, eventually becoming “an intrinsic part of the city’s identity,” Kadam adds. One of the earliest maps in the book is Fryer’s Map from 1672, a topographic study that highlights areas such as Bandura (Bandra), Canora Island (Kanheri) and Old Woman’s Island (Colaba) besides indicating the shallow reefs, settlements, vegetation and hills. There are also entries on the ivory trade that thrived in Bombay, which between 1870 and 1915 emerged as the third largest global market for ivory-related articles and a remarkable diorama that details Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s escape from the Mughal fort at Agra in a basket meant for sweets. One of the oldest stone sculptures in the museum comes from the nearby island of Elephanta. The aptly named Elephanta Elephant dates back to sixth century CE and is on permanent display at the museum’s entrance.

Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum

An Objective Portrait of Mumbai

Tasneem Zakaria Mehta: The Revivalist