What is the History of Bandra Lake and Navpada?

Answer 1

This eastern part of Bandra, called Navpada where originally nine prominent Hanafi Kokni Muslims families were inhabitated, after their migration from different parts of Thane District (Rabodi, Papadi, Sopara, Bhiwandi etc.) therefore it was named as "Nav" (nine) and "Pada" (village) or may be due to a new village. It was very prosperios village, running cotton handlooms weaving industry, like found in the Wazah Mohallas at the above places of Thane Disrict. This industry was crushed due to the intoduction of Cotton Mills in Mumbai after 1850. Most of these kokni people then engaged in milk and cattle business, after the construction Bandra Slaughter House, some got jobs in Railways and Cotton mills at Kurla. These Kokani people also built a mosque called Navpada Kokani Masjid and a cemetry, which has the history of about over 300 years. The area was then divided as Navpada East and Navpada West, by the indroduction of present western railway lines. With the acquisition of lands by the Govt. for Railway Yards, BBCIR Railway Lines, Water Pipe lines, this place was shrunk to its present size. The present lake at called "Bandra Talao" which was also known as "Motha (Big) Reservoir" was constructed by one of the richest Kokanis of this area, which was later acquired by the Bandra Municipallity, in 1870. This area and Bhoiwada (Opp. Raiway Station in West) was a Reserved Municipal Constituency for Muslims, and a Muslim Councilor named Mohammed Ismail Kazi, was nominated and elected from this constituancy for the Bandra Municipality from the period 1928 to 1938.