1. What are the characteristics of Urban Society?
Characteristics of Urban Society
Urban areas are marked by several prominent characteristics that distinguish them from rural
regions.
Population Density: Urban society is characterized by very high population density, with large
numbers of people living in relatively small areas, often leading to crowded conditions.
Heterogeneity and Diversity: Cities bring together people from different cultural, ethnic, and
socio-economic backgrounds. This diversity creates a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and
lifestyles.
Social Stratification: Urban life displays clear social stratification. Distinct classes and economic
disparities often lead to neighborhoods with different levels of affluence.
Specialization and Division of Labor: Cities provide a wide range of professions and industries,
which results in economic specialization and a complex division of labor.
Institutional Complexity: Urban society hosts numerous institutions such as schools, hospitals,
government offices, and cultural organizations, reflecting the complexity of city life.
Technological Advancement: Cities are at the forefront of technological progress, with
developed infrastructure, communication systems, and greater access to modern facilities.
Cultural Opportunities: Theaters, museums, galleries, music venues, and recreational spaces
enrich urban culture and provide varied opportunities for leisure.
Anonymous Social Interactions: Due to the large population, social interactions in cities often
remain impersonal and formal compared to close-knit rural communities.
Transportation and Mobility: Urban areas depend on advanced transportation systems,
including highways, public transit, and railways, to sustain daily life.
Secularism and Tolerance: Exposure to diverse groups fosters greater secularism and tolerance
in urban settings.
Environmental Challenges: Cities face issues like congestion, pollution, and the heat island
effect, requiring careful management.
Globalization and Connectivity: Finally, urban areas serve as hubs for trade, communication,
and cultural exchange, linking them with the global community.
A City and Its Classifications
A city is a large human settlement defined by permanent and densely settled areas where
most people are engaged in non-agricultural work. It is marked by organized systems of
housing, transportation, sanitation, utilities, communication, and land use. Cities facilitate
interaction among people, government, and businesses, improving the efficiency of
services and goods distribution. However, urban concentration can also create challenges
such as pollution, urban heat islands, and pressure on natural resources like water.
According to sociologist Max Weber, a city is a place where the majority of the
population can meet their needs within the local market economy. Cities are further
classified based on population size.
1. Small Towns (20,000–50,000 inhabitants): These settlements have limited
infrastructure and facilities but still show basic urban features.
2. Medium Cities (50,000–100,000 inhabitants): They represent growing urban centers
with expanding economic opportunities.
3. Big Cities (100,000–1 million people): These are highly industrialized areas with
many job opportunities, often leading to better prosperity for residents.
4. Metropolitan Cities (1–5 million inhabitants): Such cities are more modern,
technologically advanced, and serve as regional hubs of development and culture.
5. Megapolitan Cities (over 5 million inhabitants): These are the largest urban centers,
with massive populations, complex infrastructure, and global economic importance.
Thus, cities are not uniform but range from small towns to megapolitan centers, each with
distinct characteristics shaped by population size and development.
Rural–Urban Linkages
The concept of rural–urban linkages refers to the continuous and dynamic relationship
between villages and cities. Rather than being separate and isolated, rural and urban areas
form a continuum, where cultural, social, and economic traits often merge. At one end
lies the village, and at the other the city, with constant interaction shaping the life of both.
Urban centers depend heavily on rural areas for essential goods and services. Cities rely
on villages for agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and raw materials
like sugarcane, cotton, and jute. Industries also depend on rural labor, including skilled
masons and caste-based occupations such as barbers, sweepers, and goldsmiths. Thus,
rural areas sustain urban centers by providing food, raw materials, and workforce.
Conversely, villages depend on cities for multiple needs. Urban areas act as business hubs
where rural people purchase commodities like kerosene, fertilizers, and tools. Cities also
provide opportunities for education, healthcare, employment, and recreation. In cases
where land is acquired for industrialization, urban centers provide compensation,
rehabilitation, and alternative employment opportunities for rural families.
In the Indian context, rapid urbanization and the growth of transport and communication
have further strengthened rural–urban linkages. Modern industries near urban centers
influence rural lifestyles, while migration from villages to cities reduces the cultural gap.
Sociologist Yogendra Singh emphasized that rural and urban societies are interdependent,
and neither can be understood in isolation.
Thus, rural–urban linkages highlight a relationship of mutual dependence, where both
villages and cities contribute to each other’s growth and survival.
Perspectives of Gandhi, Yogendra Singh, and G.S. Ghurye on Urbanization in India
Urbanization has been a central theme in Indian sociology, but different thinkers have
approached it from different standpoints. Mahatma Gandhi, Yogendra Singh, and G.S.
Ghurye represent three significant perspectives: moral–political, cultural–sociological,
and historical–structural.
Mahatma Gandhi was one of the strongest critics of urbanization. He believed that the
roots of Indian civilization were in its villages, not in its cities. Gandhi argued that cities
were exploitative by nature, drawing resources, wealth, and labor from villages. He
famously remarked that “the blood of the villages is the cement with which the edifice of
the cities is built.” To him, urbanization led to poverty, inequality, and moral decay.
Gandhi’s vision was of self-sufficient village republics, each capable of managing its
own affairs, producing its own food, and maintaining harmony with nature. For Gandhi,
the village was the true unit of democracy, while the city represented corruption and
exploitation.
Yogendra Singh, on the other hand, emphasized the continuity between tradition and
modernity in Indian urbanization. He argued that urban culture in India is not a purely
modern phenomenon but has centuries-old roots. Traditional Hindu cities were planned
according to caste hierarchy and social rank. Even in modern times, Indian urbanization is
shaped by family structure, gender roles, and caste practices, which continue to influence
urban life. Singh stressed that Western models of urbanization, which assume
secularization and the decline of tradition, cannot be directly applied to India. Indian
cities are a blend of traditional structures and modern institutions, producing a unique
form of urban culture.
G.S. Ghurye offered a sociological and historical perspective. He traced the origins of
Indian cities to rural markets that expanded into centers of trade, administration, and
culture, such as Banaras, Jaipur, and Kanchipuram. Under colonial rule, however, this
organic pattern was disrupted: towns were no longer outlets for Indian handicrafts but
were reduced to markets for British industrial goods. Ghurye also paid close attention to
the problems of urbanization—congestion, inadequate housing, pollution, water
scarcity, traffic, and lack of pedestrian safety. His solution was “rururbanization,”
which combined the economic and institutional facilities of urban life with the greenery,
simplicity, and community values of rural settings.
In conclusion, Gandhi condemned urbanization as harmful, Singh viewed it as a
traditional–modern blend, and Ghurye analyzed its historical transformations while
suggesting balanced reform. Together, their perspectives highlight the moral, cultural, and
structural dimensions of Indian urbanization.
Attitude Toward Contribution /
Thinker Key Ideas
Urbanization Significance
- Believed the
future of India lies Negative – Saw
in villages.- urbanization as “evil,” Highlighted the
Criticized cities as morally corrupt, and ethical and moral
Mahatma exploitative, socially critique of
Gandhi draining resources harmful.Wanted urbanization.Promote
from rural areas.- villages to remain the d rural self-reliance
Advocated self- core of Indian and sustainability.
sufficient village civilization.
republics.
- Emphasized
continuity of
tradition and
modernity.- Indian Balanced – Did not Provided a cultural-
urban culture is reject urbanization but sociological
centuries old argued Indian cities perspective, showing
Yogendra
(planned around differ from Western Indian urbanization as
Singh
caste hierarchy and models.Urbanization in unique.Critiqued the
rank).- Even India is traditional + direct application of
modern cities retain modern. Western theories.
family structure,
caste, and gender
roles.
- Traced origins of
cities to rural
markets expanding
into trade and
administration
centers.-
Colonialism Practical/ Gave a historical-
transformed cities Constructive – structural analysis of
G.S. into markets for Accepted urbanization Indian
Ghurye industrial goods.- but wanted reforms to cities.Suggested
Highlighted balance rural simplicity solutions for balanced
problems: with urban amenities. development.
congestion,
pollution, water
scarcity, traffic,
etc.- Advocated
“rururbanization.
”
Q1. Objectives of Urban Community Development (UCD)
Urban Community Development (UCD) is an approach to improve the quality of life in
cities through people’s participation, self-help, and mutual aid. Its primary aim is to
organize and stimulate community leadership so that urban problems can be addressed
collectively, with support from higher levels of government.
One key objective of UCD is to create a sense of social cohesion within neighborhoods.
By encouraging collective civic action, UCD promotes unity among residents and
strengthens national integration. Another goal is to develop a sense of belonging to the
urban community. Through participation in community affairs, individuals learn to think
beyond personal interests and focus on collective welfare.
A third important objective is to foster civic consciousness. Citizens are motivated to
improve their social and physical environment, particularly in areas of sanitation,
housing, and public health. UCD also emphasizes the development of local leadership,
by identifying, training, and empowering community leaders to guide neighborhood
initiatives.
In addition, UCD aims to ensure the effective utilization of welfare and technical
services. This involves helping citizens understand what facilities are available through
municipalities or government bodies and how to access them. Ultimately, UCD seeks to
promote self-help, participation, and civic improvement, encouraging people to rely on
their initiative and resources while also drawing support from institutional services.
Thus, the objectives of UCD are both social and developmental, aiming to build stronger
communities, empower citizens, and improve urban living conditions.
Q2. Historical Background of Urban Community Development in India
The idea of Urban Community Development (UCD) in India has evolved over time,
reflecting the country’s response to rapid urbanization and its challenges.
In the pre-independence period, cities were relatively small, and comprehensive
development efforts were limited. However, after independence in 1947, urbanization
accelerated, and the government recognized the need for planned urban development.
The First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956) addressed issues like housing, sanitation, and
basic amenities, while the Town and Country Planning Organization (TCPO) was set
up in 1962 for organized planning. In 1963, the Rural-Urban Relationship Committee
(RURC) was established by the Ministry of Health to extend the community development
approach to urban areas.
During the 1970s and 1980s, attention shifted toward urban poverty. Programmes like the
National Slum Development Programme (1956), the Environmental Improvement of
Urban Slums (EIUS), and the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns
(IDSMT) were introduced to improve housing and infrastructure for the urban poor.
In the 21st century, large-scale missions have shaped UCD. The Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM, 2005) focused on improving
infrastructure and governance. Later, the Smart Cities Mission (2015) aimed to create
sustainable, citizen-friendly cities, while AMRUT (2015) sought to provide basic
services like water, sewerage, and transport. The National Urban Livelihoods Mission
(NULM, 2013) emphasized poverty reduction and skill development.
Thus, UCD in India evolved from welfare-oriented beginnings to development-oriented,
large-scale urban transformation initiatives. It reflects India’s effort to cope with rapid
urban growth and ensure inclusive development.
