Parel

Parel was one of the seven islands of Bombay, during 13th century was part of the Raja Bhimdev Kingdom and later was ceded by the Portugese to the British in the year 1661. At the time of the cession of the islands, Jesuits were the sole possessors of Parel along with Wadala and Sion. The islands of Parel and Mahim were separated by a marshland and they were joined in together by reclaiming the area in-between during the late eighteenth century and formed the areas that were later known as Dadar and Prabhadevi. The areas between Parel and Worli were reclaimed as part of the Hornby Vellard project during the same time. The Project consisted of building a seawall blocking the Worli creek to prevent the low-lying areas of Bombay from being flooded at high tide and thus make reclamation possible, the project was started in the year 1782 and finished in 1845.

During the period 1770 and 1880 it was the seat of British power as the official residence of Bombay's Governor was situated there and was called 'Government House' which earlier housed a Jesuit seminary. A claim also is that the House was built at the site of the old temple of Parli Vaijnath from which Parel village got its name. Another account goes that it gets its name from Padel, marathi for the trumpet flower tree. Post 1880, Governor's residence was shifted to Malabar hill. In 1898, after the outbreak of plague, the House was converted into a plague research laboratory and handed over to Dr Waldemar Mordecal Haffkine and from him got its present name. Before that in year 1875, Prince of Wales visited it and a Darbar Hall was constructed to mark his visit.

Parel village was governed under Inami tenure under which the holder paid no assessment to Government of India or cess of any kind. The (inami) grants were paid to Lowji (Wadia) families in 1783, 1821 and 1885.

"First Grant".- In 1783, Sir Edward Huges, K. B.. Commander-in-Chief of His-Majesty"s Ship in India, brought to the notice of the Government the very important service rendered by the Parsi Master-builder, Maneckji and Bamonji Lowji Wadia and their two sons in refitting His-Majesty's Squandron and recommended a grant to the family of Lowji so long as they should continue in the service of the Company (East India Company), as Master- builders, a portion of the Company's batty grounds producing a net income of forty Mudas of batty annually.

"Second Grant".- Second Grant was made in 1821 and Jamshedji Bamonji Wadia (also a Master-builder in the Dockyards) was given batty-grounds of villages of Parel, Naigaon, Sion, Kasba of Mahim.

"Third Grant".- Third Grant was made in 1885 to Khan Bahadur Jamshedji Wadia at the time of completion of 40 years service in His Majesty's Dockyards.

Parel Workshop was setup during the period between 1877-79, spread across 43 acres of land. During the First World War the railway workshop was used to manufacture grenades, explosive shells and armoured cars for military. Bombay's first Cotton Mill started in the year 1854 at Parel called Oriental Spinning and Weaving Company by Cowasji Nanabhoy Davar.

According to historian Rajnarayan Chandavarkar, from the later nineteenth century onwards, Parel village emerged as part of a distinct working class neighbourhood as cheaper land was available here for the setting up Mills as well as residences for the workers.

During the 1946 RIN Mutiny, Parel was hotbed of support activities by the Mill workers to the striking navy. During one such morcha, 300 workers died when they were open fired upon at Elphinstone Bridge. Again during the Samyukat Maharashtra Movement in late 1950s and early 1960s Parel was one of the important site of mobilisation.

The Toka tenure system governed the lands at Parel Village and 'toka' referred to a share of the produce that was to be paid by the cultivators to the rulers. Toka lands were also described as 'Sweet Batty' grounds. The payment used to be in kind and during early 18th century into was converted into a money payment. Kunbis caste members were the ones who engaged in agriculture on these lands. In 1800, the system of payment either in cash or in kind was restored. Then the rate prescribed was Rs 23 per muda (one muda was equal to 25 maunds of rice). (source: The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island Vol. II, 1909)

Parel's character and landscape changed twice during a period of one hundred years, first due to the setting up of mills and second time due to the closing of the same.

Mills in Parel: Jam Mill Tata Mill Digvijay Mill India United Mill Finlay Mill Western India Bombay Dyeing Swan Mill Standard Mill

Links: DCR 58