Communities of Place, Not Kind:American Technologies of Neighborhood in Postcolonial Delhi

MATTHEW S. HULL (2011) Communities of Place, Not Kind:American Technologies of Neighborhood in Postcolonial Delhi

• In 1956 the Indian Government invited the Ford Foundation to assist with a
  master plan for the Delhi region.
•  The Draft Master Plan for Delhi (DMPD declared “ in all planning for man ’ s environments, ” it was “ extremely vital ” to “ evolve  a  well  integrated  new  community  pattern  that  would  fit  the changed living conditions of the new age and promote genuine democratic growth. ”The importance of “ community ” was nothing new in India. It had long been  central  to  the  colonial  management  of  cities.  The colonial administration increasingly represented and governed India as a collection of pre-modern castes, tribes, races and religious communities ”“ the population was clearly dealt with in terms of communities and groups not individuals. " . Important change in post colonial - persistant/complex practices of community as a political form and non-political moral discource.
• In Delhi, the decade following independence had been one of chaotic, uncontrolled building and hastily-built refugee colonies. The tremendous population growth of Delhi during the 1940s and early 1950s had overwhelmed city infrastructure and aggravated the already acute housing shortage.
• If personnel were a problem, it was overcome by the good fit between the institutional  goals  of  Ford  and  the  Indian  government.  In  the  immediate postwar period, the Ford Foundation had been reorganized, transformed from a wealthy but local philanthropic organization into a foundation with national and  international  prominence.Its  new  purpose  was  to “ advance  human welfare, ” As the world ’ s largest democracy, India was seen by Ford and many other Americans as an important site to demonstrate that democracy can work.
• A major goal of the master plan was to generate a “ city-consciousness ” or “ sense of commu nity ” among these urban villagers. The large-scale proposals of the master plan to control population growth. Also to create a managed extension of the city with a greenbelt and ring towns. People need to identify with scale. Delhi was too big and needed town centre. Proposal to build city as neibourhood units. Many argued that community rather than formal institutions was core of society (Clarence Perry). Some would later argue (Jane Jacobs) for cosmipolitan urbanism. Many thought that neibourhoods most closely alligned with the type of communities from villages.Research was done and researches documented neibourhoods with volentary organisations, mohalla (Neibourhood) commitees, resident welfare orgs, refugee associations, bazaar committes, religous orgs, and caste councils - but at the same time none of these orgs was trying to pull people together
• Design of communities were based on improvementes of squatter emphasising face to face contact, circulation,  and community interaction. Laterines were seen as being for individual units, and units were for nuclear families. There was a push for a mix of social levels to get away from history of segregation in India. The feedback from users was that they would prefer to live with the same demographic.
• Major issue with the slums was ingrained village habits such as throwing waste anywhere, deficating anywhere, and mismanaging animals.  This requires a level of training to use better accomodation or it quickly becomes slums.
• Along with neighbourhood design , urban community dev program worked on people to make immigrants feel sence of community.Existing groups were seen as issue, hetrogenity the enemy and new immigrants a way of harmonizing. The planners acknolwed significant issues such as poverty, inadequate housing, poor health, deplorable sanitation, illiteracy, and lack of cultural and recreational activities. They were not going to take on economic issues, however they thought that lack of unity was major driver. The key focus would be on vikas mendal or citizen development council - each with 250-400 families. They were run by men however female ones also organised. Spatial organisation was emphasised to foster interaction, to avoid existing groupings (such as caste), efficiency and to organise into city government arms bringing into harmony political, social and spatial.
• Leadership was also important. They looked for "natural leaders" - where British colonialists believed in reloigous groupings and leaders, whereas these planners cultivated leaders sought.  Often conflict when traditional leaders or community groups feel they are loosing control of their people.  Mohalla commitees (ie existing neighbourhood commitees) were particularly troublesome - spreading false rumours, disputing legitamacy, and creating culture of dependancy on municipal council by gaining handounts.
• The Vikas medals were used to assist with health initiatives such as. It also helped to create the forward looking, achievement oriented individual and to institute norms via community organisers. An example of this was efforts to get people to stop urinating in drains. They also asked for once "pice" from every resident to fund th project and as a way of bringing the together. Intimate communication was fostered via group activities such as movies.
• Conclusion - Delhi projects demonstrate post colonial transition is complex blend of US, Indian and colonial social science.Basis was transformation rather than migration of existing. By 1973 a review said they were pleasent places for living and functional efficient however the idea of neighbourhoods did not develop as the other typologies of people were important. They were seen as cultural/recreational organisors who could not grapple with deep issues. Was a good learning exersise for those in power. Rise in activist resident welfare organisations (RWA) which is partial realisation of the vision - self governing, democratic, community building, manage some key community issues. Vical Mendals were a depolitisising effort to get people to do for themselves what govts could not do. Some see more recent efforts of Delhi govt as disowning responsibilites. RWA's complain of apathy and lack of engagement. They are different that they work to expell the poor living in unauthorised housing. They have become a mechanism for pressuring govt to deliver more resources.