Parbhi Itihaas (History)

The Pathare Prabhu Community is treasure trove full of gems and jewels present in the form of doctors, solicitors, engineers, architects, politicians, orators, stage & film artists and musicians among others.

Pathare Prabhus are few of the oldest residents of Mumbai and are instrumental in giving Bombay the prominent status, which it enjoys. Hence the Pathare Prabhus enjoy a special position in the History of this great city. The city's famous landmarks such as Bhau-cha-dhakka (Ferry Wharf), Mahalakshmi Temple, Thakurdwar’s Gora Ram Mandir & Kala Ram mandir, Dadar’s Prabhadevi Mandir, Kalbadevi’s Shri Ram Mandir & Dadar’s Kirtikar Market, etc built by Pathare Prabhus are still in existence.

Pathare Prabhus like the Kolis are few of the oldest residents of Mumbai and are instrumental in giving Bombay the prominent status, which it enjoys. Hence the Pathare Prabhus enjoy a special position in the History of this great city. The city's famous landmarks such as Bhau-cha-dhakka, Mahalakshmi Temple, Thakurdwar’s Gora Ram Mandir & Kala Ram mandir, Dadar’s Prabhadevi Mandir, Kalbadevi’s Shri Ram Mandir & Dadar’s Kirtikar Market, etc built by Pathare Prabhus are still in existence.

Pathare Prabhus were great philanthropists, highly literate, well to do; enjoyed a special privilege under the British regime. The Pathare Prabhus owned places like Fort, Palav Road (present Girgaum road), Laini (present Princess Street), Girgaon Back Road (now V. P. Road), Navi Wadi, etc. Likewise places in Malad, Goregaon, Bhayendar, Kashi-Meera, Uttan, Uran, Kelve Mahim (now Mahim), Chene etc were also owned by them.

When the social reforms movement started in Bombay in the mid nineteenth century, young literate parbhi men were part of the Paramhansa Sabha (present Prarthana Samaj). In fact, for many years its officiating person was Shri Ramchandra Balkrishna Jaykar. In 1852, the founder and president of the Townhall Asiatic library (first native general library of Bombay) was Shri Narayan Dinanath Velkar. Examples of great persons like Magistrate Raobahadur Nana Moroji Trilokekar (first native Magistrate), Bhujangrao Mankar (father of Marathi & Gujarati shorthand), Gajanan Bhaskar Vaidya (first Hindu Missionary) and so on are abundantly available.

But the history of the Pathare Prabhus is not just related to the last 150 years. A major question which rises is that "Where did the Pathare Prabhus come from?" Have they always lived in Bombay or did they originate some where else?

Courtesy:  Pathare Prabhuncha Itihaas (Pratap M. B. Velkar)