...It is where dreamers come and lose themselves in its endless seductions and possibilities, and it is where romantics are never denied a stage to play out their wildest scripts....-  Salman Rushdie

When the Portuguese took over the seven islands of what is now Mumbai, they named it 'Bombaim', which meant 'The good little land by the bay'. 

They had gained control over the city of Bassein (Present day Vasai) and found these islands to be of strategic importance. These islands which have been inhabited since the stone age, has been occupied throughout history by various tribes,communities and empires. However it was the Portuguese who first infused a sense of multiculturalism into the archipelago.

Before I end up writing a drab historical background of the city, let me jump straight to the point. Of all the innumerable titles which have been bestowed upon this city, 'Bombaim' oddly stands out. The title paints a picture of peace and serenity, words long alien to the megalopolis.

However, strangely enough the title still manages to capture a familiar essence of the city.