On a September afternoon in 1873, something remarkable happened in Bombay. A few dozen men gathered inside the municipal building in Fort, north of today's BMC headquarters. They were Englishmen, Hindus, Muslims, and Parsis. Their shared goal was clear. They wanted to create an effective system of local self-government for Bombay's 6.5 lakh residents between Colaba and Tardeo.
The Historic Gathering
This diverse group came together with purpose. They represented different communities but shared one vision. They aimed to establish proper civic administration for the growing city. Over 160 years later, their creation stands as India's richest civic body. The BMC now operates with a budget approaching ₹75,000 crore.
Before the BMC Existed
Bombay's governance had evolved through several phases before that 1873 meeting:
- 1669 | Bombay transferred to the East India Company. The governor and senior officials administered it without formal civic authority.
- 1803-1845 | A Court of Petty Sessions governed the city.
- 1845 | The Court was replaced by a Board of Conservancy controlled by justices.
- 1858 | Administration passed to a triumvirate of commissioners.
Minutes of the First Meeting
Major Baker RE chaired that historic gathering. Municipal secretary H Winford Barrow meticulously recorded the proceedings. His minutes capture the formal business of electing the town council's chairman and members.
Barrow wrote that the meeting advertisement was read aloud. Then, Narayan Tasudeojee proposed Captain George F Henry as chairman of the municipal corporation. Byramjee Jeejeebhoy seconded this motion. This democratic process marked a new beginning for Bombay's civic administration.
Patriotic Corporators Who Made History
The BMC would later include influential figures who challenged British authority. Their contributions shaped Bombay's civic life significantly. Notable names include:
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- Pherozshah Mehta
- Badrudin Tayebji
- HP Mody
- Jamnadas Mehta
- SS Mirajkar
- Yusuf Meherally
- Sarojini Naidu
BMC's Formation and Evolution
The corporation developed through key milestones after its creation:
- 1865 | Bombay Municipal Corporation was created. Arthur Crawford became municipal commissioner for five years. The Municipal Act vested full executive power in this position.
- 1873 | The first meeting of the democratic civic body took place.
- 1888 | The present Municipal Act was enacted, with multiple amendments later.
- 1889 | Construction of BMC headquarters at CST began. Earlier offices were in Girgaum and near Kalaghoda.
- 1931 | The designation changed from 'president' to 'mayor'. JB Boman-Behram became the first mayor.
- 1950 | Suburbs merged with the corporation.
- 1952 | The corporation became a fully elected body.
- 1956 | Sulochana M Modi was appointed as the first woman mayor. Extended suburbs also merged that year.
- 1957 | The Vaitarna scheme was conceived, planned, and executed.
- 1963 | 140 constituencies were introduced.
- 1968 | First elections were held.
- 1972 | Marathi became the official language of the corporation.
- 1996 | Bombay was renamed Mumbai.
From that modest 1873 gathering emerged an institution that now governs India's financial capital. The BMC's journey reflects Bombay's transformation into Mumbai. It showcases how local self-government took root in colonial India and flourished after independence.
