Small Cities and Towns in Global Era: Emerging Changes and Perspectives

Book Details:

• Author: R.N. Sharma

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2013

• ISBN: 9788131605752

• Pages: 368

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.0 inches

About the Book:
In the wake of globalization over the last two decades, cities and towns across the world have undergone significant transformations. New market systems fueled by technological advancements and shifting labor dynamics have restructured traditional regional hubs of production and trade. This book examines these sweeping changes with a special focus on India’s small cities and towns—urban spaces that have remained largely neglected in mainstream urban research.

Based on a seminar held at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, this volume compiles over a dozen insightful papers by leading scholars. The book is divided into two major segments: the first explores theoretical frameworks and global agendas affecting small urban settlements in India, while the second presents rich, localized case studies of specific towns and cities.

Topics range from the culture of small-town India and biases in academic discourse to issues like financing, governance, resource constraints, industrial clustering, and ethnic conflicts. The volume offers a balanced mix of theory and grounded empirical insights, making it a valuable resource for researchers, policy-makers, and students of urban development.

Contents Include:

1. Small Cities and Towns in Contemporary Urban Theory – Swapna Banerjee-Guha

2. Emerging Perspectives – Annapurna Shaw

3. ‘Citiness’ and ‘Urbanity’ – R.N. Sharma

4. Culture of Small-Town India – Rowena Robinson

5. The Academic Bias against Towns – Rajesh Gill

6. Resourcing Options and Equity Deficits – Biraj Swain

7. Industrial Dispersal & Clustering – Abdul Shaban & Sanjukta Sattar

8. Access to Amenities under Globalisation – Debolina Kundu

9. Urban Development in Punjab – R.S. Sandhu & Jasmeet Sandhu

10. Changing Face of Urban India – K.N. Bhatt & Lalit Joshi

11. The City of Terror – Abdul Shaban

12. Ethnic Conflicts – Nikhlesh Kumar

13. Demographic Changes in Port Blair – Umesh Kumar & D.N. Pandey

14. Growth of Tura Town, Meghalaya – Sumit Mukherjee & Amlan Biswas

15. Urban Governance in Karnataka – V. Anil Kumar

16. Munger: A Bazaar Town in Decline – Sheema Fatima

About the Editor:
Dr. R.N. Sharma is a distinguished sociologist and former Professor at the Centre for Development Studies, TISS, Mumbai. He served as the first Dean of the School of Social Sciences at TISS and has contributed to various government and academic bodies.
Dr. R.S. Sandhu, co-editor, is a retired Professor of Sociology from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, with international academic affiliations in the Netherlands, South Africa, the UK, and the USA.