Author: Kalia Ravi
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 1987
Pages: 201
ISBN: 019562311-8
Subject: Urbanisation
Sub-Subject: Urban Planning/ Urban Studies
Keyword: Chandigarh, Le Corbusier, Planned City, Urban Planning, Urban Growth, Infrastructure, City Planning History
Shelf: C9R5
Accession No: B1641
Contents: Illustrations, Preface, Genesis, Architects, The Mayer Plan, The Le Corbusier Plan, A Planned City, Conclusions, Notes, Bibliography, Index
Abstract: Chandigarh, initiated in 1949, stands as India’s foremost example of a planned city, symbolizing post-independence modernity and progress. The city’s planning and development, meticulously documented by Kalia, focus on its unique history and the pivotal figures who shaped it. Central to Chandigarh’s design was the visionary architect Le Corbusier, whose modernist principles and innovative urban planning guided the city’s layout, architecture, and infrastructure. The book details how the Indian government’s original aims—creating a symbol of a new, independent India—aligned with Le Corbusier’s vision of a functional, organized, and aesthetically striking city. The updated edition enriches this narrative by adding a new introduction and epilogue that connect the initial intentions behind Chandigarh’s creation to its present-day realities, challenges, and growth. Kalia’s work remains the definitive study on Chandigarh, exploring how its development reflects broader themes in Indian urban planning, governance, and identity. It offers a comprehensive look at the city’s transformation from a planned blueprint into a vibrant, evolving metropolis, balancing modernity with tradition. Overall, the book provides an insightful examination of Chandigarh’s role as both a historical landmark and a living, dynamic urban experiment.