Question

Describe any five causes of the expansion of Bombay in the nineteenth century.

Answer 1

Ans. Bombay started developing in the 19th century.
The five prominent reasons for the expansion of Bombay and . due to which it emerged as a centre of trade and other activities were
(i) Bombay became the capital of the Bombay
presidency. With the growth of trade in cotton and opium, large communities of traders, bankers, artisans, shopkeepers came to settle in Bombay
(ii) By 1921, there were 85 cotton mills in Bombay with about 146000 workers. Large number of people migrated here in search of job.
(iii) Bombay dominated the maritime trade of India till well into the 20th century.
(iv) Bombay was the junction head of two major railways-Central and Western railways. It encouraged a large number of migration.
(v) By 1925, Bombay became India’s film capital, producing films for the national audience.
Gradually, Bombay became an important administrative centre and a major industrial centre in Western India.

Answer 2

Following are the few causes for the expansion of Bombay in the 19th century:

1. Textile mills were established which led to a fresh surge in migration.

2. Many people flowed in from many districts of Ratnagiri to work in Bombay mills.

3. Being the junction of two major railways, it helped directly for Bombay expansion.

4. The railways encouraged an even higher scale of migration into the city.

5. In 1888-89 famine in Kutch drove large numbers of people to Bombay.