Inequality and integration in an industrial community
- Simla Indian Institute of Advanced Study 1977
- 254p.
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later when I was able to get back to it, Dandeli had grown so large and changed so much that the old study seemed sadly out of date and not worth publishing in that form.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.