'This book provides a clear and readable account of India's multi-layered experience of the planning of urban development. It is infused with a wide knowledge of the planning field, while being deeply sensitive to India's particular political economy and diverse urban realities. Kumar, Vidyarthi and Prakash show how present initiatives in developing urban planning legislation and practice are built on, and have to contend with, a complex history, in which India only emerged as a single nation in the colonial and post-colonial periods, and where ways of planning urban development have been inherited from past colonial and local regimes. Their account is richly illustrated and referenced, and draws on research and evaluation studies where available. The book is supplemented by an appendix which consists of very helpful mini-essays on key concepts and topics. It will surely become an essential text for planning students in India, while serving as a very valuable introduction for all those interested in the 'planning story' of this vast and populous sub-continent.'-Patsy Healey, Professor emeritus of planning, Newcastle University, UK

'This book ushers a new era of joint scholarship between scholars from India and the US to better understand the trajectory of urban development and planning in India. This is not a rehash of all the insurmountable problems facing Indian cities. On the contrary: this is a nuanced and ultimately hopeful view of how urban planning has evolved over the last 70 years in a decolonized and democratic nation where majority of the citizens still live in rural areas. The book blends historical understanding with new aspirations for economic growth and social mobility to argue for a stronger role of urban planning in India's development.'-Bish Sanyal, Ford International Professor of Urban Development and Planning, Director, Spurs/Humphrey Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

'The book provides a welcome and valuable overview of planning for cities in India since its independence in 1947, starting with the long-standing legacies of British colonial rule. The book will serve as a clear, easy to follow and extremely informative primer to students and practitioners of planning in India, especially as a jumping-off point for more detailed and critical analysis of recent government initiatives such as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Special Economic Zones, and Smart Cities Mission. Ultimately, the book fulfils three roles simultaneously and admirably: an excellent overview of past trajectories, a clear and detailed taking account of current practices, and most significantly, for those planning the future of Indian cities, a launching pad for investigating the potentialities as well as pitfalls of future efforts.'-Aseem Inam, Professor and Chair in Urban Design, Cardiff University and Director, TRULAB: Laboratory for Designing Urban Transformation

'City Planning in India, 1947-2017, is an outstanding introduction to India's post-independence urban planning challenges, possibilities, and institutions. It explains the complexities of spatial planning in modern India with nuance and optimism. In anticipation of India's new urban age and expected massive rural to urban transition, it makes the case for and provides an important resource for the growth of the planning profession in the country. The book, however, is much more than a basic textbook. In addition to planning students and professionals, scholars, activists and citizens interested in urban development will find it a useful reference and resource.'-Vinit Mukhija, Professor and Chair, Department of Urban Planning UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Los Angeles