Malad

Malad is mentioned in the Mahikavatichi Bakhar, a 15th–17th century Marathi-language text of doubtful veracity. In fact, the text was commissioned by Nayako-rao, the revenue collection officer (Desala or Deshala) of Malad, with the objective of using genealogies to legitimize the hereditary revenue collection rights of the local officials.^[1] The text narrates the history of Malad as follows: In the 13th century, Nagarshah - the king of Ghandivi (Gandevi) - conquered the present-day Mumbai region. Three of his relatives demanded the villages of Malad, Marol, and Thane as fiefs as a reward for their good performance in this military campaign. When Nagarshah refused their demand, they allied with King Ramdev-rao (Rama-deva) of Devagiri. The area briefly came under the control of Ramdev-rao's son, Bimb-dev (Bhima), but Nagarshah's family soon regained control over it, and ruled as a vassal of the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century.^[2]

The Mahikavatichi Bakhar further states that Soma (or Somala), the Desala of Malad,^[3] went to Sultan Alauddin's court in Delhi to resolve a dispute with another landholder named Papanrut Desala. Alauddin killed both men after a heated argument, but later felt remorse for killing the innocent Soma, and prayed for him. Meanwhile, Alauddin's wazir Nika Malik appointed Bhagadchuri (a son of Nagarshah's foster son Jaitchuri^[3]) as the new Desala of Malad, but the local people despised Bhagadchuri as an outsider.^[4] Bhagadchuri's corrupt and perverted acts, including his attempt to seduce a woman from the family of Soma Desala, made him more unpopular. Bhagadchuri later replaced the local vassal king as a subordinate of the Tughluq dynasty, and executed all his opponents, including the descenants of Soma Desala. Ultimately, a group of dissidents executed him at the Harba-devi fair on the Madh Island. Subsequently, Muhammad bin Tughluq appointed Lahur-shah - a member of the Nagarshah dynasty - as the new administrator of the area.^[5] Later, the area was successively ruled by some local families, the Muzaffarids of Gujarat, and the Portuguese.^[5][4]

Malad has a famous Hanuman Temple in Malvani Village constructed by Purav on their land. It's popular for its traditional Hanuman Palli Ustav which last for more than 2 days.^{[citation needed]}

Ahead of Aksa Beach is the hidden and relatively lesser-known vital landmark, which is the Malad Fort a.k.a. Madh Fort. The fort overlooks the Arabian Sea and was captured by the Maratha Empire, from the Portuguese in 1739.^[6] INS Hamla, a logistics and training establishment of the Indian navy is situated in Malad.^[7]

• St. Anne's High School & Junior College^[8]
• Kendriya Vidyalaya INS Hamla
• Durgadevi Saraf Institute of Management Studies^[9]
• Mahindra Academy^[10]
• Lords Universal College^[11]
• Ryan International School (ICSE/CBSE, Malad)^[12]
• Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy^[13]
• Malad West School in Mumbai, Vibgyor Rise^[14]
• Nagindas Khandwala College^[15]
• Utkarsh Mandir Malad (East) and Malad (West)

• Marve Beach
• Aksa Beach
• Manori Beach