Culture and urbanization

Migration of various regional groups to the big industrial centres forms one of the sig nificant aspects of Indian urbanization. The profound resultant changes and their ramifica tions in various walks of social life for the migrants have attracted the attention of social scientists for a closer look in recent years.

The present research study by Dr., S.M. Michael, a promising young anthropologist, based on his extensive field-work during 1981-84, focuses on intra-regional differences between two South Indian communities in the context of urban adjustment. In the first sec tion of the study, author has elaborated in depth the relationship between ecology and culture for Tamilnadu and Kerala with their differing historical, social and personality characteristics. In the second section, author has critically analysed the adjustment of these two cultural groups in Bombay. The findings are summarized in the third section and the author has suggested that educators, social workers and administrators involved in people's problems should take into considera tion the cultural background of migrants. When implementing development programmes, ecological and cultural con straints should be pointed out to the migrants to motivate them in reinforcing those cultural values which promote economic development and modernization.

It is a valuable book for the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, sociology, and urban development and all those interested in better civic life.