Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of In , Mumbai was named an alpha world city. The seven islands that constitute Mumbai were earlier home to communities of Marathi language -speaking Koli people.
Mumbai in the 19th century was characterised by economic and educational development. During the early 20th century it became a strong base for the Indian independence movement. Upon India's independence in the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In , following the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement , a new state of Maharashtra was created with Mumbai as the capital. Mumbai is the financial , commercial, [ 32 ] and entertainment capital of South Asia.
It is also one of the world's top ten centres of commerce in terms of global financial flow, [ 35 ] generating 6. The city is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes and the Hindi and Marathi film industries. Mumbai's business opportunities attract migrants from all over India. The oldest known names for the city are Kakamuchee and Galajunkja ; these are sometimes still used. Other variations recorded in the 16th and the 17th centuries include: Mombayn , Bombay , Bombain , Bombaym , Monbaym , Mombaim , Mombaym , Bambaye , Bombaiim , Bombeye , Boon Bay [ 49 ] [ 50 ] and Bon Bahia.
The term had been in use for quite some time but it gained popularity after the official name change to Mumbai. Pleistocene sediments found along the coastal areas around Kandivali in northern Mumbai suggest that the islands were inhabited since the South Asian Stone Age.
In the 3rd century BCE , the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire , during its expansion in the south, ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka of Magadha.
