Author: Thomas Frederic C
Place: Calcutta
Publisher: Penguin Books
Year: 1997
Pages: 189
ISBN: 0-14-029257-8
Subject: Urbanisation
Sub-Subject: Urban Poverty
Keyword: Poverty, Pavement Dwellers, Street Children
Shelf: C9R2
Accession No: B1597
Contents: Preface Introduction Impressions Black Town and the City of Palaces Bhadralok and the Genteel Poor Refugees and Migrants Slums and Squatters Bustees from Within Improving the Bustees Caste and Occupational Niches Providing Livelihoods Mobilizing the Community Slum Politics The Interactability of Urban Poverty Notes Bibliography Index
Abstract: Calcutta: The Human Face of Poverty explores urban poverty in Calcutta through historical, sociocultural, and observational lenses. The book contrasts the city’s historic grandeur with contemporary deprivation, examining social strata from the affluent bhadralok to the genteel poor, alongside refugees, migrants, and slum dwellers. It provides detailed accounts of bustee life, community structures, and improvement efforts, while analyzing how caste, occupation, and informal economies shape livelihoods. The work also addresses political dynamics and community mobilization within slums. By highlighting the interplay of social, economic, and political factors, it offers a nuanced understanding of poverty and the challenges of alleviating hardship in Calcutta.