The Native East Indian Christian's Of North Konkan

Posted By : Ashley D'souza 
Authors : Micheal Swamy

Teddie J Rodrigues

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In Northern Konkan the christians were under Muslim Rule subsequently to the defeat of Rama Deva by Ala ud Din Khilji Emperor of Delhi , In 1294 temples and churches in the area were destroyed by Mubarak Shah who in the local tradition was described as Mumba Rakshasa ( Demon) ,

The Muslim headquarters were based in Thane , And it was here in 1321 Ad that the 4 Franciscan Missionaires were martyred by the muslim governor of thane , Under Muslim rule the Christians strength diminished and Indian churches witnessed a likening to the European Dark Ages ( From 9th Ninth to 14th Forteenth Century )

Without the existence and support of priests to administer the rites of their religion , They were soon reduced to a nominal status outside the Hindu Fold , It was till the arrival of the Portuguese in India that Christianity in the region grew once again , Some scholars write that It would be a mistake to assume that the Portuguese introduced Christianity to the North Konkan as many professing the faith were Descedents of the old Community , who had preserved their Faith ,

Nevertheless it appears to be more historically correct to accept that when the Portuguese arrived by Sea to Trade , They did in fact through their Missionaries achieve the Christianisation of several Thousand Natives , They were ignorant of the fact that they were coming to a land of venerable antiquity , They were totally Ignorant of the presence of Buddha in India or St Thomas and St Bartholomew in the North Konkan

By 1510 the Portuguese had control of Goa and were soon building forts along the Coastline to control and oversee Maritime trade across the Indian ocean , Goa was captured by Alfonso De Alberquerque from the Sultan of Bijapur and made it into Portuguese Stronghold

By around 16th Century the Portuguese had control of South & North Konkan ( 1534 ) Goa Dui Daman and Malabar Coast , Thus whilst we cannot be certain about the conversation of East Indians in the early period of the 1st Century A-D There are sufficient records to trace that connection to between 1547 and 1600 A-D

During those years several Villages accepted the Catholic Faith in North Konkan from Dahanu in the North to Chaul in the South This Conversion and Foundation of the East Indian Community were mainly due to the Zeal of the Franciscans and Jesuits , Two Missionaries whose work was outstanding at this time

We are original inhabitans of Mobai ,then Bombay,and now Mumbai, The language of the bulk of the people is the local Marathi dialect. Among the educated classes English is the home speech. These too, though Indians in essentials had taken to Europeanized manners and the men like other Indians with English education dress in the European fashion. Some East Indian women, who adopted European costumes started wearing more graceful sari.

Our Original dress code was Surkas But when we started working in some British Firms , we started wearing Paints , Shirts Caps and lost our identity , But Kolis have managed to keep the tradition , As per our ancestor’s , We are all adhivasi from Mumbai

Adhi - Vasi Means ( Adhi – Pasun – Wasnare ) “ The Original Inhabitants Of Maharastra Mumbai .

The Ancestry of the native christians of North konkan who today are known as the East Indian’s can now be traced as earlier recorded from the 1st century A-D , The earliest known Native Christians from the 1st century A-D were found in North Konkan in the district of Bassien , Thane , North Salsette and Chaul

1) Narpole

2) Chakala Andheri

3) Chapel Road

4) Charai Thane

5) Chimbai Bandra

6) Cilbavor Kurla

7) Hall Village Kurla

8) Juhu Gaothan No 2

9) Juhu Gaothan 3

10) Kevni Amboli

11) Khali Kirol

12) Kolbad Thane

13) Mann Boisar

14) Naupada Thane

15) Old Khar

16) Pakhadi Parle

17) Pali Uttan

18) Parle

19) Pond

20) Ranwar Bandra

21) Remedy Vasai

22) Tape Amboli

23) Varoda Bandra

24) Tarapur

25) Mani Boisar

26) Kelva Mahim

27) Agashi

28) Arnala

29) Bolinj

30) Nandakhal

31) Nanbhat

32) Nirmal

33) Barampur

34) Bhuigaon

35) Chulna

36) Gass

37) Gokhivare

38) Gomes Ali

39) Koliwada Vasai

40) Manickpur

41) Balliam Rajoli

42) Achola

43) Calmona

44) Sattolli

45) Merces

46) Merdes

47) Mulgaon

48) Mafaregna

49) Palle Naigaon

50) Muddwadi

51) Kazan Bhat

52) Chene Boree

53) Dhamami

54) Karkoon Bhat

55) Popesao

56) Olamwadi

57) Sonar Bhat

58) Wan Bhat

59) Kinthal Wadi

60) Por Bhat

61) Pimpal Bhat

62) Sagarseth

63) Khopwadi

64) Kermeri

65) Sagar Bhat

66) Papdy Vasai

67) Sandor

68) Shirlaiwadi

69) Umela

70) Umralle

71) Giriz ( Small )

72) Giriz ( Big )

73) Dhavli

74) Mothi Sutar Ali ( Big Capentary )

75) Dhakti Sutar Ali ( Small Carpentary )

76) Bhayander

77) Dongri

78) Tarauri

79) Kashimira

80) Ghoromal

81) Sanbojapal

82) Uttan

83) Palli

84) Chowk

85) Baroli

86) Tautoli

87) Bandouli

88) Chene

89) Manori

90) Gorai

91) Culvem

92) Navghar

93) Alldheeya

94) Kumbarwadi

95) Pavelee

96) Sheeri

97) Bathodi

98) Navi Khadi

99) Pathan Bunder

100) Deo Talao

101) Dhaisur

102) Thana

103) Pokhran

104) Sitalzar

105) Magatana

106) Pahadi

107) Char Kapa

108) Poinsur

109) Mt Poinsur

110) Bandarpakadi

111) Kandivili

112) Orlem

113) Rathodi

114) Kharodi

115) Malavni

116) Marve

117) Madh Island

118) Chimcolim

119) Dinsossim

120) Cherem

121) Arem

122) Erangal

123) Oshiwara

124) Goregaon

125) Versava

126) Ambivli

127) Kevni

128) Mogra

129) Gundavali

130) Bhamanpuri

131) Kondivita ( Condita )

132) Bhamanwada Sahar

133) Sahar

134) Marol

135) Powai

136) Tiranja

137) Kurla

138) Deunare

139) Nanele

140) Magdale

141) Kirol

142) Khalai

143) Vikhroli

144) Mohili

145) Kalina

146) Vankola

147) Kolovery

148) Khar

149) Vile Parle

150) Juhu

151) Santacruz

152) Chuim

153) Marouli

154) Mani Mankhurd

155) Bhandup

156) Bandra

157) Chembur

158) Kanjur

159) Saki

160) Kopri Khurd

161) Vikholi

162) Paspoli

163) Borlem

164) Anigua

165) Manual

166) Varoli

167) Kalyan

168) Korlai

169) Pen

170) Chaul

171) Pallo

172) Colaba

173) Esplanade

174) Mazagaon

175) Umerkhadi

176) Byculla

177) Dadar Naigaon

178) Bhoiwada

179) Sewri

180) Wadala

181) Chinchpokli

182) Katemanavli

183) Uran

184) Panvel

185) Morro

186) Cavel

187) Girgaum

188) Mandvi

189) Matherpakadi

190) Dongri

191) Dadur Dadar

192) Parel

193) Worli

194) Sion

195) Mahim

196) Thakurdwar

197) Bazar Road Bandra

The original East Indian homeland villages stretching from Dahanu in the North to Chaul in the South of the North Konkan region including those lost in the Bombay Metropolis in the island city are listed below Many of these villages have just disappeared most of them were destroyed completely during Maratha Invasion and villagers fled never to return

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