Kalakilla is a fort in the area of Sion-Dharavi. The fort has been in existence since Maharashtra’s ruler, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. However, the British took it over and the fort was later handed over to the Governor of Mumbai in 1737.
The chawls in this area have evolved over the years. Some of the chawls in this area are Seetabai Chawl, Kondalkar Chawl, BMC Chawl, Nanudas Chawl, Beediwala Chawl, JM Gupta Chawl, Shankar Bhau Chawl and SD Mane Chawl. Other major landmarks around Kalakilla is a municipality school near the entrance of Kalakilla, Two temple- Lakshmi Mata Mandir and Shani Mandir. The recent population in this area ranges from 3000 to 3500 people approximately.
Residents of this area believe that there to be a secret passage from Kalakilla to Sion Fort. However, there is no actual proof of its existence. The land on which the Dharavi Bus Depot, Maharashtra Nature Park and PMGP Colony currently lies was once a large garbage dumping ground and a marshy area adjoining the creek. This was gradually reclaimed by the residents using sand and mud from different parts of Mumbai. The bus depot and nature park was built around 1960.
The approach road from the entrance to the actual fort walls was built in 1957 after India’s independence. The British Government also constructed 10-20 fire hydrants in 1920.
People residing near Kalakilla migrated from different states of India namely Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Although, the Maharashtrian population is in majority, ‘Charmarkar’ caste from different states and Shudras of the Hindu religion are some of the other caste that reside here. There are more Maharashtrian Charmarkars living here than from any other state. Charmarkar is a caste whose primary occupation is leather tanning. The Sion-Bandra Link Road is called Sant Rohidas Marg, named after a famous saint named Rohidas who belonged to the Charmakar Caste.
Since 1950, people from across India have been settling in the Kalakilla area in search of work and a better livelihood. After the construction of roads and schools in 1960-65, different social organizations began cropping up. A social organization named Lok Seva Mandal is one such organization that serves the Kalakila community by providing vocational training and a space for community programmes.
Warkari Saptaah (7 day festival each year) is a festival celebrated by a group of people living near Kalakilla, who believe in Lord Vithal Rukhmani. Lord Vithal Rukhmani also has a famous temple in Solapur, Maharashtra called Pandarpur. Sant Dyaneshwar , a Indian saint who had translated the Bhagwad gita, the Holy book of the Hindus into a local language known as ‘Prakrut’ so that people would be able to understand the scriptures. This ‘Dyaneshwari’ as it is now locally called, is read aloud through the seven day festival.
The community partakes in national and religious holidays with great zeal. On 15th August, Indian Independence Day books and notebooks are distributed to schools around the Kalakilla area. Other Hindu festivals Ganesh Utsav, Navratri, Holi, Diwali are celebrated along with all member of the Kalakilla community with great enthusiasm.
