4
Prose
The Historiography of Shri Bimbakhyana: The Dark Phase of the Medieval History of Mumbai
Sandeep Dahisarkar
Shri Bimbakhyana is a Marathi manuscript that chronicles the changing political history of the island city of Mumbai and its environs. Additionally, it provides an overview of the socio-religious conditions of its Marathi-speaking inhabitants from 1138 CE to 1512 CE, prior to the Portuguese arrival. First published by R. P. Rane in 1877, a second version of this manuscript was later edited in Marathi by distinguished scholars like V. K. Rajwade (1924) and Dr. R. C. Dhere (1973) under the title 'Mahikavatichi Bakhar'. Dahisarkar discusses Shri Bimbakhyana's historicity and historical significance after discovering its fourth poetic version in the collection of Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal, Pune. By using this manuscript and a few archaeological sources, he has made an effort to write about Mumbai's lesser-known medieval past. This text gives a brief overview of Mahim, which was renamed as Mahim-Bimbasthana after its founder and king, Raja Bimba, and concentrates more on the history of Sashti island (Suburban Mumbai).