Previously, this was called ‘Mankar chawl’ and the Mankars had a huge cattle shed with cows and buffaloes and a dairy. Ismail Gul Mohammad bought this place some years later and today people belonging to different castes like the Dhor, Chambhar, Marathas, Kanadas, Gujaratis and Maharashtrains live here. It is largely a Maharashtrain community (population of around 4000-5000) with people from Satara, Pune, Kolhapur and some from Ratnagiri settled here. Though most of the residents today live on rent, it was originally inhabited by Dhors, Wagharis and Charmakars and some Mangs. With time people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Muslims have also settled here and today the community is a amalgamation of all the various cultures.
Most women from the Gul Mohammad chawl make papads, work as teachers in ‘aanganwadi’ – local playgroups and men mostly work at Government offices and small scale jobs like making gloves, belts and wallets are undertaken here.
As Hindus are in majority, most Hindu festivals like Ganesh utsav, Navratri and Diwali are celebrated. Dutt Jayanti is also celebrated here and as a part of social activity medical camps is held by the Yuvak Mandal.
Most homes in this community have a tap but till a few years ago most people used to fill water from a single tap but the BMC managed to get a tap in every home but some continue to fill water from the common tap.
This neighbourhood of 4000 has only one toilet block and the situation is grim, locals have a pass to use the toilet facilities and collect Rs 10 per home per month for maintaining it.
