Inequality and integration in an industrial community

In 1955 when I joined the Gokhale Institute of Politics and
Economics, Poona, I took over an ongoing study of the growing
industrial village of Dandeli, under the Institute's larger pro-
gramme of the Agricultural Economic Section. It was mainly
a fact-finding study with a heavy slant on the economic aspects.
Although the report was completed in due course, for one
reason or other it remained on the shelf. Years later when I
was able to get back to it, Dandeli had grown so large and
changed so much that the old study seemed sadly out of date
and not worth publishing in that form. But I was prompted
to have a second look at the place and with a small but
generous grant from the Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Simla, conducted another investigation in 1969, after a lapse
of 13 years.
The second investigation was more modest in coverage
but focussed on the problem of integration of a rapidly growing
town an aspect which also figured in the previous study. The
present work embodies the relevant findings of both the
investigations and I believe, is richer in analytical depth
because of the information at two points of time.
The people of Dandeli from all walks of life have given
generously of their time and hospitality during my visits, putting
me under their obligation. I have to express my thanks to
the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and the Indian
Institute of Advanced Study for their facilities and financial
assistance for conducting the studies. I owe a deep debt of
gratitude to Dr. N. R. Ray and Dr. S. C. Dube, the former and
the present Directors of the Indian Institute of Advanced
Study respectively, but for whose encouragement this work in
its present form, might not have seen the light of day.