ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

An Analysis of the Spatial Structure

of Indian Cities



by HARBANS SJNGH, Ph.D.

Thesis director: Professor John E. Brush



The principal objective of this study is to analyze intra-urban spatial structure of Indian cities on the basis of population characteristics.  To achieve this objective two questions are asked:

1. What are the principal social dimensions in Indian cities and what is their structure?

2. How are these urban social dimensions spatially arranged over the cities?

Analytical procedure.--Census of India 1961 provides tabulation of a variety of data by census wards. These data relate to the number of households, number of houses total population, sex ratio, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, literacy rates, and employment structure of the residents.  Eighteen variables were derived from the above data.  The principal component factor analysis with rotation represented by computer program BMD-03M was employed to analyze the data matrix (Census Wards x variables) for each city.  Twenty Indian cities representing different historical origins, economic bases, and geographic regions were selected for the analysis. The spatial pattern for principal social dimensions was established by the analysis of variance and regression analysis using factor scores.

Results.--The results synthesized into two models: Model I-Urban Structure and Its Spatial Patterns

A. Urban structure.--The principal dimensions found in the urban structure of Indian cities are:

1. Traditional social status which derives its characteristics from Indian culture and the caste system.

2. Achieved economic status which has its basis in economic development and modernization processes.  This dimension is similar to the economic status dimension found in American cities.

3. Male concentration.

4. Segregation of religious groups.

5. Factors showing one dominant economic activity.

B. Spatial patterns.--It is established by the analysis of variance and the regression analysis that the dimensions of traditional social status distributes in a concentric way.  The people of high traditional social status live in the central area of the city and the people of low traditional social status, i.e., the Scheduled Castes, live on the periphery of the city.  The dimension of achieved economic status is distributed sectorially, as in

American cities in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, and Jamshedpur. The distribution of the other social dimensions is localized.  Factor score maps are included to show the actual arrangement of the dimensions.



Model II-Social and Economic Change

This is a process model derived from the antithesis and synthesis of the dimensions of traditional social status and achieved economic status These two dimensions appear to represent a dual system of prestige; one is ascriptive and traditional in nature, and the other is the result of economic development, the spread of literacy and Western influences which can be achieved. Thus, it reveals the degree to which social and economic mobility is taking place in Indian cities. Four stages are identified in the process from antithesis to synthesis of these two dimensions, indicating the direction of social change and economic mobility. In the first stage, the dimensions are separate. In the second and third, the traditional social status dimension changes its characteristics. In the fourth and final stage, both of these dimensions merge in one dimension, suggesting that in the transition from traditional, to modern, the people with high traditional social status become high on the scale of achieved economic status and the people of low traditional social status remain low on the scale of achieved economic status. The meaning of these results to public policy are also discussed in the last chapter.

 	Another result of this study is that in India, e.g., Calcutta, the dimensions of family status and economic status, as formulated by the American social area analysts, are not separate. These dimensions are merged to form one dimension.  The result contradicts the finding of Berry's study of Calcutta in which he found that these two dimensions are separated as in the case of American cities.

The text includes twenty maps of factor scores and two idealized maps of the Indian city.  The tables for the rotated factor structure and factor scores and the outline map for each city analyzed is also included in the Appendix.