Author: Chatterji Aditi
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: INTACH
Year: 2014
Pages: 673
ISBN: 978-81-7305-509-6
Subject: Urbanisation
Sub-Subject: Urban Development
Keyword: Urban Landscape, Urban Space, Globalisation, Urbanization, Urban Identity, Urban History
Shelf: C9R4
Accession No: B1626
Contents: List of Illustration, Vol I- Part I: Introduction, Part II: The Indian Landscape: An Overview, Part III: The Indian Landscape: Historical Perspectives, Part IV: The Indian Landscape: Socio-Economic and Cultural Perspectives, Part V: Conclusion, Appendices, Figures, Plates, Select Bibliography, Index
Abstract: The book is the result of over twenty years of research conducted at Oxford and Kolkata, offering a comprehensive study of the urban landscape of India from the Indus Civilisation to modern postcolonial times. It focuses primarily on colonial and postcolonial urban development, exploring the transformation of Indian cities over the centuries. The book consists of eighteen chapters that delve into various facets of urbanisation, including the changing concepts of urban space in India—whether sacred, public, commercial, or practical. It also addresses the socio-economic and cultural impacts of postmodernism, globalisation, and expanding urbanisation. Key themes such as town planning, heritage conservation, race, class, ethnicity, poverty, gender, public health, and the relationship between the natural and built environments are explored. The study also examines the evolution of both the rural and natural landscapes of India. Through a historical, social, and cultural lens, the book provides a multifaceted analysis of urban India, highlighting the complex and dynamic interplay between urban development, societal changes, and environmental factors. It offers deep insights into the factors shaping India’s urban identity and the challenges faced by its cities in the context of globalisation and modernisation.