Kalakilla

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History:

Kalakilla is a fort in the area of Sion-Dharavi. The fort has been in existence since the ages of Maharashtra's king and ruler, CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ. The British however took it over and the fort was ultimately handed over to the Governor of Mumbai in 1737.

The chawls in this area have evolved over the years. They are Seetabai Chawl, Kondalkar Chawl, BMC Chawl, Nanudas Chawl, Beediwala Chawl, JM Gupta Chawl, Shankar Bhau Chawl and SD Mane Chawl.

People from the area believe there to be a secret passage from Kalakilla to Sion Fort. However, there is no actual proof of its existence. The land on which the Dharavi Bus Depot, Maharashtra Nature Park and PMGP Colony lies on was once a large garbage dumping ground and a marshy area adjoining the creek. This was gradually reclaimed by the residents. The bus depot and nature park was built around 1960.

The approach road from the entrance to the actual fort walls was built in 1957, which was after independence. Before that however, the British Government constructed 10-20 fire hydrants in 1920.

Religion & Caste

People residing here belong to different states namely Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Although the Maharashtrian population is the majority, there are also ‘Charmarkars’ from different states and Shudras of the Hindu religion. Charmarkar is a caste who by occupation are leather tanners. Comparatively, there are more Maharashtrian Charmarkars living here than of any other state. The Sion- Bandra link road is actually Sant Rohidas Marg, named after a famous saint named Rohidas who belonged to the Charmakar Caste.

Culture:

Since 1950, people from across India have been settling in the Kalakilla area in search of work. After the construction of roads and schools in 1960-65, different social organizations began cropping up. A social organization named LOK SEVA MANDAL is one such organization that serves the community by providing vocational training and a space for community programmes.

Near the entrance of Kalakilla is a municipality school which caters to the residents. Two temples; Lakshmi Mata Mandir and Shani Mandir were built much later after the school came up.

WARKARI SAPTAAH SOHLA is a festival celebrated by a group of people who believe in Lord Vithal Rukhmani which has a famous temple in Solapur, called Pandarpur. This festival is celebrated for seven days every year. Sant Dyaneshwar was a saint who had translated the Bhagwadgita into a local language known as ‘Prakrut’ so that people would be able to understand the scriptures. This ‘Dyaneshwari’ as it is now locally called, is read aloud through the seven day festival.

The community partakes in national and religious holidays with great zeal. On Independence Day distribution of books and notebooks takes place. Various festivals like Ganesh Utsav, Navratri, Holi, Diwali, etc. are celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The population here ranges approximately from 3000 to 3500 people.

* The information has been gathered through personal interviews of local residents of Kalakilla, Dharavi

The Research Team:

Reshma Ludbe-Project Coordinator

Mahendra Sonavane-Research Fellow

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