Andheri - History

History

The oldest settlements in and around Andheri were those of the East Indians, the natives whose villages survive in Pump House, Marol (See St. John the Baptist Church), Chakala, Gundowli, Sahar, Saki Naka, etc. The name Andheri was derived from Udayanagari, the name of a hill near the Mahakali caves.

Another concentration of the native East Indians was located on the former islet of Versova, also known as Vasave.

In the early 1900s, as urbanization spread from Bombay northwards, Marathi, Gujarati and other settlers began to colonize the area.

The British actively encouraged this in order to take off population pressure from the congested city and to increase revenue inflows; however, as a result, the native East Indians came to be swamped, marginalized and their lands were usually expropriated without compensation, even as their access to the sea for fishing was cut, thus destroying their two means of livelihood: agriculture & fishing.

In the 1940s the British built the Versova Causeway (the Versova Road) between Andheri on Sashti Island and the islet of Versova. The area on both sides of this causeway were rapidly filled in to develop areas now known as Lokhandwala Complex, Yamuna Nagar, Millat Nagar, Dhake Colony, D.N. Nagar, Four Bungalows, Seven Bungalows, etc.

One of the earliest colonies is the Dhake Colony on Versova Road, West Andheri. The five buildings of Dhake Colony were built around 1950, and they served as a landmark until recently. The area is now known as D.N. Nagar.

Another of these early settlements is Bhardawadi. This lane forms a vital link with S.V. Road for the residents of Versova Road. It has been inhabited for the last ninety years. In the past, there were bungalows on this road; these gave way to apartment buildings, although there are still a few old bungalows, which is rare in Mumbai. This lane bustles with the sound of traffic which passes through it to reach S.V. Road.

The popular Ganesha temple, Siddhivinayak temple, created in 1926, also contributed to the settlement of Andheri.

Starting from 1935 up to early 1980s Andheri East boasted of many Film Studios, namely Prakash Studio, Nataraj Studio, Modern Studio, M&T Studio and Mohan Studio. All these studios were situated from Telli Gully signal junction up to Chakala Junction on Andheri-Kurla Road. All the big names of Bollywood of that era had their offices in it. Prakash Studio made way for Vishal Housing complex. Modern studio had to close down in mid 1960 as the Western Express Highway was constructed right through it. M&T studio was gutted in a fire in early 1960. In its place came German Remedies(pharmaceutical company). Post sale of German Remedies to Cadalia, the same has now been converted into a residential apartments "Green Woods Appts". Mohan Studio too had to make way for Mota Nagar and Padam Nagar. Small hotels run by Sindhis who migrated from Pakistan and Udipi Restaurants run by entrepreneurs from Mudradi Village in Udipi (Karnataka) catered to these Studios day and night.

Before 1945, Andheri was administered by a Collector as the "Suburban District"; in that year, the former Suburban District was absorbed by Mumbai city as Greater Bombay. However, the Suburban District was once again revived in about 2000 as the Mumbai Suburban District.

Andheri West has more or less rocky foundation. Gilbert Hill is one glaring example of the rocky history of this place. Up till late 1960s there was no tar road near the station and Tanga or horse carts were the main transport means to reach the nearby vicinity from the station. There was limited habitation around the station area on the west.