East Indians are a Marathi-speaking , Roman Catholic ethnic or sub-ethnic group, based in and around the city of Mumbai in western Indian state of Maharashtra ^[1]. These people are of the original Marathi ethnic group and had been evangelized by the Portuguese, while retaining much of their pre-Christian traditions. Image File history File links Circle-question. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... “Bombay” redirects here. ... Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... The Marathi people or Maharashtrians (Marathi: मराठी माणसं or महाराष्ट्रीय)are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ...

Origin Of Name

The history behind the name is such: Bombay was formerly under the Portuguese in the 1500s; and East-indians were then known as Bombay Portuguese. Bombay then became increasingly anglicized after the handover to the British in the 1600s. Under the British, they were known as Bombay Portuguese too, but, when immigrants from Portuguese-ruled Goa began to enter Bombay, in order to distinguish themselves from the Goans (whom the British also called Portuguese), they renamed themselves "East Indians", purportedly after their affiliation to the British as locals of Bombay and as such to be distinguished from the Goans and the Mangloreans. Goa   (Konkani: गोंय goṃya; Marathi: गोवा govā; Portuguese: Goa) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population (after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh). ...

Bombay mentioned here is the metropolitan Bombay. To the East Indians, "Bombay" refers to the seven islands of Bombay, which is from Mahim to Colaba. Not many are aware that it is the Island of Salsette, which ranges from Bandra upto Vasai Creek. This is important, as many think that the Metropolitan area of Bombay was given as a dowry by the Portuguese to the British, where as, in reality the dowry was only the seven islands of Bombay. There were very many innocent East Indians who died as a result of skirmishes (Cannon fire) between the Portuguese garrisons (located at Bandra) and the British garrisons (located at Mahim). The cannons at both these areas were unearthed very recently.

Culture

The East Indian culture is unique. Although, they have preserved their pre-Christian Marathi culture and traditions, many Portuguese and Anglican influences have been absorbed. Their language is almost exclusively Marathi. However, the urban section is fluent in English as well. It should be noted here that there exists a village of East-Indians who to this day speak Portuguese. The language of the Shamedi Christians is a dialect of Marathi known as "Shamedi". The East Indian cuisine ia unique blend of Koli, Marathi, Anglican and Portuguese cuisine. They still retain many of the practises of pre-Christian tradition. Most of the East Indian women wear typical Maharashtrian saree and Koli dresses ^[2] . They also wear "tikali" (bindi) and "mangalsutra". The East Indians of Vasai also practise the pre-Christian tradition of visiting the Vajrayogini temple every year. The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Kolis are a community of fishermen and women living mostly on the western coast of Maharashtra. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is a state in west-central India. ... Kolis are a community of fishermen and women living mostly on the western coast of Maharashtra. ... Vasai Road is the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. ... Vajrayogini or Vajravarahi (Tibetan: dor je phag mo, English: the Vajra Sow) is a tantric Buddhist deity whose sadhana (practice) originated in India between the 10th and 12th century. ...

There are five broad cultural groups of East Indians - Samvedi Christians, Koli Christians, Vadvals, Salsette Christians and the urbanized section.

Prominent East Indians

• Thomas Baptista: freedom figther and social worker
• Gonsalo Garcia: Roman Catholic saint from India

Politicians

Sportsmen

Businessmen

See also

• East Indian
• Marathi people
• Mumbai
• Kotachiwadi
• Indies
• Kupari
• Portuguese India

The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and... The Marathi people or Maharashtrians (Marathi: मराठी माणसं or महाराष्ट्रीय)are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. ... “Bombay” redirects here. ... Kotachiwadi is a heritage village in Girgaon, Mumbai, India. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives... Portuguese India (Portuguese: or Estado da Índia) was the aggregate of Portugals colonial holdings in India. ...

External links

• East-Indians.com
• East-Indians.net
• East Indians Blog