Urban Policy in India

The principal purpose of Nigel Harris’ book seems to be to attack some of the more durable prejudices underlying urban policy in India. The analysis of Bombay’s problems is merely an instrument for put­ting forward what could be described as a radical economist’s view of city planning. Discussions of urban policy in India have often proceeded on the assumption that urbanization is a necessary evil that must be restrained to the utmost extent and that amongst urban areas the great metropoli­tan areas are somehow even more evil than smaller towns. It is not clear whether this belief is based on any objective analy­sis of living conditions or social relations or the preferences of rural and urban dwellers. Judging by impressions it would appear that, in general, small towns are filthier, more squalid, aesthetically less pleasing and poorly provided with public services and employment opportunities relative to the big cities. When it comes to social relations once again there is no evidence that caste or communal tensions are lower in the small towns. In fact one could argue that the metropolitan areas provide the opportunity for anonymity to those who want it as well as the benefits of group solidarity and belonging to those who prefer that, in the form of ethnic localities.