Introduction
Bombay (now Mumbai) emerged as one of India’s most important cities during the colonial period. While it was known for its trade, ports, and administration, a key feature of its urban character was its identity as a working-class city. The city attracted thousands of laborers, mill workers, dock workers, and migrants who formed the backbone of its growth. In this note, we’ll explore how Bombay became a hub for the working class and how it shaped the city’s identity.
1. Industrial Growth and Employment
- Bombay became the center of India’s textile industry in the 19th century.
- Cotton mills employed thousands of workers from rural Maharashtra and Gujarat.
- The city also had dockyards, railway workshops, and chemical and engineering factories.
2. Migration and Urbanization
- The promise of jobs led to large-scale migration from nearby regions and across India.
- Workers came from varied backgrounds—Marathi-speaking villagers, North Indian laborers, and South Indian migrants.
- These groups settled in chawls and slums near workplaces, creating diverse neighborhoods.
3. Housing and Living Conditions
- The working-class population lived in chawls (multi-family tenements) and informal settlements.
- These areas were overcrowded, with poor sanitation but strong social bonds.
- Despite harsh conditions, workers formed community groups, mutual aid societies, and unions.
4. Labour Movements and Identity
- Bombay became a center of labour activism and trade union movements.
- Strikes, protests, and collective bargaining were common, especially in the textile mills.
- Workers’ struggles gave Bombay its identity as a politically aware and mobilized city.
5. Role in City’s Economy
- The city’s economy relied heavily on the labour of its working class.
- The port activities, mills, and service sectors functioned due to this population.
- While elites controlled profits, workers drove the physical development of the city.
6. Cultural Life
- Working-class areas contributed to theatre, folk music, festivals, and cinema.
- They created a distinct urban culture rooted in struggle, solidarity, and creativity.
Conclusion
Bombay’s evolution into a modern metropolis cannot be understood without recognizing its identity as a working-class city. The laborers and migrants who built and ran the city shaped its economic and cultural character. Even today, traces of this history can be seen in Mumbai’s neighborhoods, politics, and working-class legacy.