Subaltern Urbanisation in India: An Introduction to the Dynamics of Ordinary Towns

Shreyank Khemalapure engages in a discussion with Eric Denis and Marie-Hélène Zérah, Editors of ‘Subaltern Urbanisation in India: An Introduction to the Dynamics of Ordinary Towns' and Solomon Benjamin, author of the chapter 'Multilayered Urbanisation of the South Canara Territory' in the book, which was published by Springer in 2017 The book, ‘Subaltern Urbanisation in India’, edited by Eric and Marie, offers a paradigm shift in understanding India's urban landscape by shifting the focus from major cities to smaller urban settlements. Drawing on three years of original research, the volume presents a comprehensive exploration of subaltern processes of urbanization. Eric Denis is a renowned scholar in urban geography, holding a PhD from the University of Caen, France, and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University. He currently serves as a senior research fellow at CNRS and director of research at the Géographie-cités Lab, Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University. With extensive international experience, including work in Cairo, Sudan, and South India, Denis focuses on metropolitan transformations, social divisions in urban territories, and comparative analyses of systems of cities, contributing significantly to the field through over 60 publications. Marie-Hélène Zérah, a Research Director at IRD, specializes in urban studies with a focus on Indian cities. With a Ph.D. and HDR, she led research in New Delhi and co-coordinated projects on small towns' urbanization roles. Zérah's recent work explores data-driven Urbanism, Smart Cities, and urban energy governance. She is a prolific author, contributing to volumes such as "Quand l’Inde s’urbanise" and publications on water access and the Right to the City in India. Zérah also serves on the editorial board of Geoforum and is the Series Editor of Exploring Urban Change in South Asia with Springer. Solomon Benjamin, an urbanist, bridges geography, sociology, and anthropology, focusing on property's role in small-scale economies in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. He collaborates with artists, exploring urban density. Outside academia, he enjoys watercolor, ceramic stoneware, and carpentry, influenced by George Nakashima. His research delves into transnational urban spaces, local governance in global economies, and critical art practice.