Vile Parle
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Template:Mumbai - Suburban Railway, Header This suburb of Mumbai is also known as "Parle" or "Parla".
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Geography
Vile Parle is divided into two parts: Vile Parle (East) and Vile Parle(West) by the railway line. The east-west boundries of Vile Parle are from Juhu (west) to Sahar, Andheri (east).
History
The name 'Vile Parle' is derived from the names of small villages that included Idlai - Padlai. Around 1897, some of the rich businessmen came down to Western Suburbs and bought real estate on large scale. Also some middle class families and government officers came to Vile Parle to settle down. The railway station was built somewhere in 1906 or 1907.
One of the rich businessman Shri Gokuldas Tejpal bought over the huge piece of land near railway station (east) and built a palatial bunglow called Mor Bangla. (1904). There were mainly Maharashtrian families who bought lands and constructed bunglows and chawls in Vile Parle (E). Dr. Dada Kambli started a charitable trust. He also built small shops alongside the railway line. The Paranjape family started Silver Trading business. Shri Baburao Paranjape who was the main founder of cooperative housing societies in Vile Parle entered into construction business knowing the growing need of middle class small families and helped them settle down in Vile Parle by making small flats available in affordable price. Paranjape also built the famous Parleshwar Mandir.
In 1921, Parle Tilak Vidyalaya was founded as a tribute to Late Shri Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and in 1924, Lokmanya Seva Sangh (Tilak Mandir) came to an existence. Both these institutions have greatly contributed in bringing up the younger generation of Vile Parle residents and making them the responsible citizens of this country. Parle Tilak Vidyalaya association started its own Parle College (now called as Sathye College) in 1959 followed by M.L. Dahanukar College of Commerce, Mulund College of Commerce and Dahanukar Institute of Management and also Paranjpe Vidyalaya, Marathi and English medium.
In 1928 Vile Parle Flying Club was founded in Juhu area and in 1932 late Shri J. R. D. Tata landed his 'Pusmoth' plane at the Juhu Airport. Vile Parle possess some of the social and business houses known internationally such as Parle Biscuit Factory and the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple (ISKCON).
Educational Institutes
- Parle Tilak Vidyalaya
- St. Xavier's High School
- Ramanlal Nagindas Shah High School(SSC Board)
- Utpal Sanghavi High School(SSC Board)
- Jamnabai Narsee High School(ICSE Board)
- Mithibai College
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
- Sathye College
- Narsee Monjee College of commerce
- Ruia High School.
- Shrimati Gokalibai High School
Entertainment
The cultural activities in Vile Parle started around 1927 when some of the artists founded 'Natyapremi Mandal' performing Marathi historical and social dramas on stage. Vile Parle has three famous drama theaters - Deenanath Natyagruha,Bhaidas Hall and Prithvi theater for Marathi, Hindi and Gujarathi plays to perform.
People
Vile Parle has produced some of the eminent personalities like late Shri P.L. Deshpande, Vijay Tendulkar and late Shree Datta Bhat, late Shree Satish Dubhashi among many others. Many of the prominent personalities of the Indian film industry like Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra live in the Juhu area in Vile Parle (West).
Business
Chatrapati Shivaji Domestic Aiport, Mumbai's domestic airport is in Vile Parle. One of the leading Indian brands for confectionery and biscuits, Parle Biscuits started out here. You can almost smell the sweet fragrance on the highway or in the suburban train while passing through here.
More stuff
Vile Parle is commonly referred to as the Small Pune of Bombay; other terms include "Place of Green Tunnels" and Parla in local parlance. Up to the 1970s, the area around Vile Parle used to be mostly rice fields with bunds built around them for people to walk. During the monsoon season, the area used to get waterlogged and snakes used to be visible due to the flooding. Starting in the late 70's the area was transformed as the real estate boom pushed northward of Bombay. At that time the area consisted of just a few hamlets, and the population was mostly Maharashtrian. After the transformation, the Gujarati and Marwari communities settled in the area. Due to its vicinity to Juhu, the area was later patronised by the film community, including many Marathi thespians.
Vile Parle is also known as the educational capital of the suburbs with numerous schools such as the St. Xavier's School and Don Bosco. The area is also a centre of Maharashtrian culture with institutions such as the Lokmanya Seva Sangh and Parle Tilak Vidyalaya assisting programmes as long back as the 1922. The Tilak Mandir and Dinanath Mangeshkar Hall are two cultural centres of the township.
The western part of Vile Parle is the Juhu aerodrome, which was the first airport in India, witnessing JRD Tata become the first Indian to fly a plane from Bombay to Karachi in 1932. After the Santacruz airport was built, the airport stopped handling planes, though it still serves a flying school and a helipad. It is also equipped to handle emergency landing of Boeing 747s. To Vile Parle's east lies the [[Sahar international airport.
The area is peaceful and quiet, and almost all avenues are tree lined, with little pollution related problems. The area was also famous for the Parle factory, which manufactured soft drinks and biscuits.