Скачать или смотреть The History of Bombay: Why East India Company got it for £10 per year

The year is 1661. A big wedding is planned between the royal family of Portugal and Britain.
Britain was then a rising power and Portugal a struggling power.

The British demanded dowry. Portugal then ruled the seven islands of Bombay. Bombay was then a tiny fishing village. The Portuguese did little to develop it over 150 years. Their main purpose in Bombay was to spread Christianity

They were happy to offer Bombay as dowry to the British. But it was not worth much. Britain demanded more and so even Tangiers in Morroco was given.

But the part that sealed the marriage deal was neither Bombay nor any love. It was a Secret document. The agreement said that England would help Portugal against the Dutch and Spanish. Through the marriage – Portugal got the defense services of England and Britain got newer territories.

One year later the marriage happened. Portuguese started the handover of Bombay to British. When the British reached Bombay they were disappointed with the small size and condition of Bombay. Even that was not coming easy.

The Portuguese Viceroy and British kept having arguments. The Viceroy tried to delay the transfer of Bombay to British. He even proposed to the Portuguese King to buyback Bombay from the British for 120,000 pounds. The British were meanwhile getting angry.

A Brahmin in Bombay told the British. That Hindus would revolt against Portuguese if Britain attacked them. British prepared a plan for it

Soldiers and ship set off from England to launch their attack in Bombay. But the soldiers got drunk. No attack happened

In 1665 – the handover eventually happened to British. But two months later an official notice is sent by Portugal to suspend the transfer. British had however made their move. They occupied two of the seven islands of Bombay: Mazgaon and Parel. Then they grabbed Mahim

Other islands were added later. The King of England was not happy. To manage a far off island like Bombay. In 1668 he decided to lease it to a company for 10 pounds per year

That company was East India Company. Which laid the foundation for Bombay to become the city it is today