Who are the East Indians?
East Indians were the original inhabitants of the Salcette Island, constituting the northern suburbs of today’s Mumbai (which itself consisted of seven islands, during high tide, in those days). The Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah had ceded Bassein to the Portuguese. Out of these three, Mumbai was ceded to England by the Portuguese, in 1661, as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she was married to Charles II. The East Indians belonged to four main groups: Kunbis, Bhandris, Agris and Kolis (fisherfolk). My friend Roger Pereira tells me that in addition to these, there were the Marathas too. Though Mumbai came under the British, Salsette Island continued to be under the occupation of the Portuguese, who converted the locals to Christianity. Even today, a majority of the East Indians speak The womenfolk wear nine yards sarees and wedding rites are similar to those at Hindu weddings. Among prominent East Indians are Michael Fereira, the great Billiard champion, former Cardinal and
