Kolis: A Community Older than the City of Mumbai

Fish is a staple for most Mumbaikars and it is the Koli community that is the lifeline of Mumbai's fishing markets. Fishing for them is not just a part of their livelihood but the basis of their very identity- a tradition that goes back to a period even before Mumbai was born.

A group of Koli men and women; Image Source: Scroll

Kolis, today, are famous for their fishing occupation along the coast of Mumbai but their cultural significance can be traced far beyond this. They are perhaps the oldest of the indigenous tribes residing in the city. In fact, it is believed that the very name of Bombay has its origin in the name of their village deity Mumbadevi. It was no exaggeration when The Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency in 1989 said that the Son Kolis is the tribe “one must seek for the blood of the men of the Stone Age”. Speaking of which it must be mentioned here that the Kolis are broadly divided into six tribes- Mangela, Son, Vaitee, Dhor Mahadeo, and Malhar Kolis. The first three are fishing tribes while the last three are agricultural tribes.

Geographically these tribes are spread across different regions. While the fishing tribes inhabit the coastal areas of Mumbai, the agricultural ones are found primarily in the Sahyadri Ghats. Moreover, the agricultural tribes are categorised under the Scheduled Tribes group but the fishing tribes constitute the Savarnas under the Hindu religion.

The coasts of Mumbai and its surrounding areas are dotted with Koliwadas i.e. Koli settlements. However, most of these are those of the Son Kolis- the most popular of the lot. They get their name from the color of turmeric or bhandar- a favorite ingredient of their deity Khandoba. Thus they are called ‘Son’ or Golden and the word  ‘Koli’ is associated with fish. Mythologically, they are the descendants of Mardhan- the son of sage Kashyap and Achinta, who deviated from the life of asceticism and later took to fishing.

Over time, fish has become an integral part of their livelihoods. Not only is it their source of livelihood but also a part of their popular culture. Be it their houses, ornaments, or rituals, it is all incomplete without the symbolism of fishing. Their homes are adorned with sculptures of fishes and fisherwomen, mostly seen flanking the main entrance and the Tulsi Vrundavan. The Koli women proudly sport earrings, nose pins, and necklaces with intricate designs of fish, prawns, and sea shells. Their guardian deity Vetal- a water spirit, is highly revered among all the Koli tribes and is often presented with the rostrum of sawfish on religious occasions. A fish called Ghol (Protonibea diacanthus) is a mandatory item for any Koli wedding.

While the men spend weeks at a stretch on the sea looking for a fabulous catch, the Koli women act as fish sellers at the markets. The women can also be seen catching fish manually on the shores. However, presently they are faced with several problems that are threatening their traditional livelihood. Industrial fishing with bottom trawlers not only poses competition to the Koli community but also depletes the natural fish population of the sea. With every passing year the fish catch is dwindling drastically. Moreover, the coast in many regions has become a dumping ground which affects the mangrove plantation and hinders their primitive ways of fishing like Goolwa and salt pans. Greater government intervention and regulation is the need of the hour for several fishing communities- like the Kolis, living along the vast stretch of the Indian coastline and who are solely dependent on the sea for their livelihood.