The Delhi Urban Platform invites you to a panel discussion on:
Dissent and Debate at a time of Rapid Change: Experiences from Indian Cities
Oct 29th, 6 pm
Centre De Sciences Humaines Lawns, 2 Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi
In this panel we ask participants to consider the issues of debate and dissent in contemporary urban development particularly since economic liberalization, based on their long-standing scholarly engagement with the rapid change that Indian cities have experienced in the last two decades. The panel comes in light of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi – both a process of city building and a focus for increasing censure. It will bring together scholars from Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai to share their perspectives.
Traditionally and analytically, it has been suggested that the since economic liberalization, a dichotomous urban form has emerged, usually imagined as the eviction of poorer city residents to make way for newer forms of globalized urban development.
Given this, the panel seeks to ask:
- Whether this global template for urban upgradation/urban renewal has succeeded, and in what ways? Is the model entirely global?
- What is the role debate and dissent have played in its success and failure, and in the recent transformation of Indian cities?
- At what sites and spaces has any dissent and debate taken place, (for example within and outside of government, through politics, in the media)? To what effect?
- What are the forms and discourses that such debate and dissent are characterized by? Is there a model beyond debate and dissent that has emerged as an effective politics in the production of space?
- Finally and most significantly, how have governance strategies and policies either accommodated, co-opted or resisted efforts at debate, and in response to what kinds of urban actors?
We have with us as panelists:
1. Solomon Benjamin, Associate Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies
2. Véronique Dupont, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Research for Development, Paris
3. Diya Mehra, Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi
4. Stéphanie Tawa Lama-Rewal, Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of India and South Asia, Paris
5. Marie-Hélène Zérah, Senior Research Fellow, Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi
Hoping very much to see you all at the discussion!
Delhi Urban Platform
