The East Indians were among the first to make their homes in Mumbai over 300 years ago. And yet, as the city developed, they were left behind. This was the lament of more than 210 members of the community who took to the streets yesterday, to demand that the Maharashtra government recognise them as the original inhabitants of Bombay, Thane, Vasai and Raigad, and return their land to them.

Scores of East Indians stepped out at 10.30 am on Sunday in Vakola, Andheri, Malad and Kanjurmarg to voice their frustration and demands. The peaceful rally was organised by the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat and 30 other East Indian associations across the city, as part of the 6th Annual East Indian Solidarity Rally. The peaceful rallies were held simultaneously at four locations, exhibiting the cultural richness of the community with a ghumat (percussion instrument made out of a pot) performance and renditions of the community's traditional folk songs. However, at the heart of the rally was their centuries-old bitterness at having been sidelined in their own city.