Summary of my research so far

In my 2+ months here so far, I think my research is going fairly well. One of things you realize quickly when you arrive is that getting what you need here doesn't work the same way as in the US. You have different expectations of what information you want and what is actually available. For example, in the US you can easily get GIS map layer data for a city, but here that information is simply not available. Of utmost importance is patience because here things take longer, you have to meet the right people to get what you want, and often you have to go through several people to get something accomplished. I have realized that we really value our independence in the US and the ability to do things for ourselves. Along with being patient, you have to let go of your independence and ask other people to help you do things. So overall you have to let go of some of your expectations and the time you want to accomplish things in because otherwise you will be very frustrated.

So to sum up my research, I have spoken with a number of planners and planning professors, have been learning Gandhinagar by traveling there and observing its character, observing how people use space in India, traveled to Chandigarh to compare it to Gandhinagar, and have found and read books on my topic.

Also to understand whether Gandhinagar has been 'Indianized' from its origins as a plan based on the very much western-influenced Chandigarh, I have also been observing how people typically use space in India to be able to compare. Some of the main things I have noticed:

Space in India is very multi-functional and multi-layered.
For example, in the day space may be used for parking while at night or during a festival, it could converted into a celebration area, bazaar, or something else. Sidewalks aren't usually used for walking like in the US. Instead people make their homes there, build small temples, or set up their shop carts. Sometimes that's were the cows are dogs are, so most people just walk on the edge of the street. Similarly, during Diwali firecracker sellers would set up semi-permanent stands on the sidewalk right in front of permanent shops, so that the permanent shop was completely obscured from the road. Do they create some deal with the permanent shop owner? Why is this allowed? I don’t know.

Unless police, etc. are constantly enforcing laws, people will do whatever they want.
I was amazed that in Chandigarh there are very few cows and few beggars, but it is because the local government there strictly enforcing these things. I thought it was amusing that Koenigsberger, the western planner of Bhubaneswar wanted to create separate traffic lanes for every type of vehicle there. In Ahmedabad in some places have separate bike lanes, but I rarely see them used. Often people are again using them as living spaces or selling spaces. If traffic is congested, then people on motorcyles clog up the bike lanes to get through faster. Medians also seem to be a bad idea here. They don't provide enough crossings for pedestrians and plantings in them can make it difficult to see oncoming traffic. If there aren't enough breaks in the median, autorickshaws and motorcyles will simply drive on the side of the road into oncoming traffic rather than drive the correct direction place to U-turn.

Ideas of ownership of space and/or privacy differs.
In the US we really value our individuality, but in India the culture seems to value more the idea of a group consensus, doing what is best for everyone. With its traditions of having joint-family houses and a large overall population, this would make sense. In houses and public buildings I have seen less of an "ownership" of space. For example, at Ball State everyone had his/her desk in studio to keep their things, and they personalized that space. There is a lot less of that happening at CEPT. I have often seen that building layouts omit hallways to maximize space in actual rooms. As a result individuals have to pass through the middle of classrooms or bedrooms and disturb the activities there.

So overall, the best thing seems to be is to create very unencumbered, unrestrictive spaces that allow people to use them in the ways that meet their needs. If a need is not included in a city plan, the informal sector will self-build to meet that need whether it be housing or shops.

Ok, more in the next installment!