Academic Publication

Author Profile

Shrawan Kumar Acharya acquired his post graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, in 1986 and joined the University as a Lecturer in 1992. At present he holds the post of Professor in the Faculty of Planning. He completed Bachelor's Degree in Geography from Visvabharati University, Santiniketan, Master's in Geography and PhD from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has also acquired Diploma in Urban Management, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham. His early schooling was done in St. George's High School, Pedong, Darjeeling. He was conferred the Senior Fulbright Fellowship, Urban Knowledge Network Asia Fellowship, ASF Fellowship, the Shastri Indo Canadian Fellowship and the University Grants Commission Fellowship. He was a Fellow at the International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden; Ball State University, Muncie; Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing; Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi and McGill University, Montreal. His research and teaching interests involve urban history, poverty, regional development, environment and social impacts. Understanding the developmental issues in the mountain communities especially in Darjeeling and Sikkim is his passion. Of late his academic and research interest has focused on comparing the redevelopment, heritage and marginali zation issues in emerging Asian, European and American cities. Besides teaching and research he is actively engaged in capacity building initiatives, professional and advisory services for various government and nongovernmental organizations.

About The Book

The transformation of Asia is the most documented narrative in the world today and the impact of this change is seen in the cities. Cities have grown horizontally and vertically in a scale unprecedented in history and there is an outright attempt by the governments in Asia to be recognized and accepted as an urban societyglobal in approach and modern in outlook. Urban transformation has accelerated national incomes and provided better infrastructure, health and governance to many, but there are also large majority who are marginalized and disempowered by the negative externalities. In the great Asian transformation narratives their story has been lost and ignored. Such a contradictory process has been witnessed in all cities of Asia cutting across ideologies, culture and governance structures. The book attempts to highlight these contradictory urban transformations taking place in China, India and Vietnam. It discusses the urban dynamics, impact of globalization, policy and planning issues, state priorities, marginalization and exclusionary consequences based on firsthand experience of Beijing, Hanoi and Ahmedabad. It provides a comparative urban process prevalent in the three major cities and emphasizes the need to learn and unlearn from these Asian experiences for creating a better future. In a way the book is an Asian perspective which is important in evolving theoretical understanding on Asian urbanism which so far has primarily been interpreted and explained from western modernist urbanism.

Table of Contents

Foreword Prologue Acknowledgement Preface List of Abbreviations Chapter 1. Emerging Economies and the Narratives of the Urban Context Chapter 2. Planning and Managing Inner City Revitalization in Beijing Chapter 3. Hanoi: Urban Development, Planning and Redevelopment Issues in Post Reform Vietnam Chapter 4. Ahmedabad A Mega City in the Making Chapter 5. Lessons from the three City Development Experience Bibliography