Website articles (21) Courtesy: Alamy
24 December 2025

Japan in Bombay: trade, faith and community

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The earliest sizeable presence of Japanese expatriates in India was in colonial Bombay and its Presidency. The Japanese came for trade, but their engagement with the port city and its cotton hinterland went beyond commerce to include spiritual life and later, India’s national movement. This chapter, ‘Geographies of Exchange between Japan and India’, traces their community, religion, social infrastructure, and commercial and cultural contributions to Bombay.

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Oman and Zanzibar virtual museum Courtesy: Oman and Zanzibar Virtual Museum
24 December 2025

Bombay-Oman-East Africa trade networks

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In December, India and Oman signed a Free Trade Agreement – a formalisation of exchanges which are, in fact, two hundred years old. These were led by the Indian merchant diasporas, especially the Bhatia, Bohra, Khoja, Khimji and Jain communities, which used Omani-controlled maritime networks to link Bombay with East Africa. These networks still endure, and among the oldest, strongest, and culturally richest are the Bombay-Oman-East Africa connections.

Website articles (21) Courtesy: Alamy
18 December 2025

Japan in Bombay: trade, faith and community

BY

The earliest sizeable presence of Japanese expatriates in India was in colonial Bombay and its Presidency. The Japanese came for trade, but their engagement with the port city and its cotton hinterland went beyond commerce to include spiritual life and later, India’s national movement. This chapter, ‘Geographies of Exchange between Japan and India’, traces their community, religion, social infrastructure, and commercial and cultural contributions to Bombay.

Website articles (14) Courtesy: Wikiwand
11 December 2025

The Scottish espirit in Bombay

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For a week in December, the Feast of St. Andrew is observed in Mumbai’s two Scottish Presbyterian churches – St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the Church of St. Columba. In the absence of Scots, these Churches and multiple educational institutions and trading houses remind us that colonial Bombay was primarily built by these hardy Highlanders, often mistaken by locals for Englishmen. The Scots were also Britain’s most enthusiastic Empire-builders.

The Tontine Coffee House Courtesy: The Tontine Coffee House
9 October 2025

Russia-America age-old energy rivalry in India

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In the late 19th century, Bombay was a key import and transshipment port for Russian kerosene. The city’s market was dominated by the Russian product, with American kerosene in a distant second place. The jousting for Indian market share between the two nations unfolded amid geopolitical tensions between Great Britain and Imperial Russia – and gave the U.S. a decisive edge.

indo pacific (5) Courtesy: Katie Clerides
31 July 2025

India-Cyprus, bound by Lilla

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Republic of Cyprus on June 15-16, and was warmly received by President Christodoulides. Deep in the bilateral connection is an Indian-origin First Lady, Lilla Irene (Erulkar) Clerides, wife of former president Glafkos Clerides. Lilla, an Indian Jew from Bombay, lived through India’s and Cyprus’ independence and Partition. It made her a passionate advocate for the unity of her adopted home.

The Old Stadium (Courtesy: Shashi Prabhu) Courtesy: Shashi Prabhu
5 June 2025

Wankhede Stadium scores a half century

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Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium was inaugurated in October 1974, making this year its golden anniversary. The first test match was played on its grounds from 23-27 January 1975. It was the last in the India vs. West Indies test series and was memorable for the 242 not-out scored by West Indian batsman Clive Lloyd. It led to such jubilation in the stands that a fan excitedly ran onto the pitch to congratulate him. He was arrested by the Bombay police.

Map-2-International-Trade Courtesy: Oxford University Press
23 January 2025

The ancient precursor to IMEC

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The India Middle-East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced during India’s G20 leaders’ summit in September 2023 aims at security and ease of connectivity by multi-modal physical, digital and energy corridors connecting India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Europe. Like many of the connectivity projects created around the world today, IMEC’s origins are 2,300 years old, ancient routes that connected the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea

Porch__Port_House Courtesy:
5 September 2024

Bombay-Antwerp: A tale of two port cities

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Mumbai and Antwerp share a history from the 18th century. Traffic between the two ports expanded with Belgium among the top three European countries trading with Bombay. After the Second World War, both cities developed a chemical industrial complex adjoining their ports. Today their centuries-old connections have come full circle with an active collaboration between their port authorities.

pm modi warsaw png Courtesy:
22 August 2024

Bombay’s Polish legacy

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official two-day visit to Poland, the first by an Indian leader in 45 years, commemorating 70 years of India-Poland diplomatic relations. His trip has emotional significance for Poles, as India hosted thousands of Polish refugees during the Second World War. Bombay was the fulcrum from where the rescue, housing, health, and education of Polish children, women, and elderly were undertaken.