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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

Contribution of Patrick Geddes

Anannya Talukder

Research Scholar, Department of Humanities, Anna Malai University

ABSTRACT

PATRICK GEDDES KEYWORDS

“BY Town planner, Geddisian Triad, LIVING WE LEARN” Geddes valley section, Patrick Geddes was a man of diverse theory, interests and talents. Today he is Constellation concept probably best known as a town planner. However, he has also been INTRODUCTION described as biologist, sociologist, conservationist, educationist and ecologist. Patrick Geddes is correctly described as one of the founders of modern town Geddes did much to improve the living and regional . His theoretical conditions in this local environment ideas have influenced much and was also a figure of international importance. He travelled widely and subsequent planning practice, regional corresponded with the key thinkers and and writers of the time such as Charles environmental management. In Darwin, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nobel particular, his focus on the triad "Place laureate Rabindranath Tagore. - Work - Folk" is fundamental to Above all, his aim was “ to see life contemporary debates and research whole”, and to achieve a better into regionalism and locality, understanding of human beings in their economic and community natural, built and social environment. regeneration, environmental quality His ideas and concerns about the environment, education, and and and conservation are still as relevant today social inclusion. as they were in his own time.

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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

Patrick Geddes was born in Ballater Royal College of Mines in London but spent his early childhood in Perth. under between He started his professional life as a 1874 and 1878, and lectured in Geologist and, in 1879, discovered Zoology at University from chlorophyll. Unfortunately, ill health 1880 to 1888. From 1920-23 he was prevented him pursuing what would working as a professor of Civics and have likely been a glittering career as a in University of natural scientist. He turned instead to Bombay.Patrick Geddes -Also known social analysis and applied his as “Father of Modern Town scientific methodology to the processes Planning” and First to link of economic, social and environmental sociological concepts into town change. In 1888, he took up the post of planning . Professor of Botany at University College, and held this part PATRICK time position until 1918. Geddes was GEDDES based principally in Edinburgh during this time and in parallel to his Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was a academic interests became interested ‘polymath’— a man of many parts. He in urban and and was a biologist by training, a issues. pioneering town planner who influenced various generations of In light of the connection to Dundee urban planners, a sociologist and an and Patrick Geddes' research interests educator throughout his life. A in planning and environmental powerhouse of intellect and energy, management, Town and Regional Geddes blazed his course from project Planning has established him as to project at home in and representative of its own research around the world for half a century. interests, professional practice and Instead of a becoming a specialist, he teaching activities. To this end, the was happy being a ‘generalist’, who Geddes identity is now an integral part held a holistic view that in order to live of the School. we must be able to see the intertwined link between the natural and social Geddes was the founder of the College sciences. des Ecossaise (Scots College) an international teaching establishment in Geddes had a lifelong contempt for , . He studied at the examinations and never took a

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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

university degree. Yet, he held the position of Chair of Botany at Many have been influenced by his (1888 to 1919), work, including urban theorists such as and Chair of Sociology at the . Geddes also set the University of Bombay (1919 to 1924). foundation for future urban thinkers His teaching style was conversational such as and the New and involved out of class learning movement which focuses on through regular excursions and walkable neighbourhoods, variety of observational visits. He urged his housing and occupation types. students to practice this world view where life was a learning process and Yet very few people know of the name one could learn more by doing. Patrick Geddes, including in the University where I obtained my Geddes’ work was based on his master’s degree in Sociology, located fundamental principle of ‘Place, Work in the of Bombay (now called and People’ as he believed that Mumbai) which desperately needs ; economics and massive amounts of to anthropology were related, yielding a make it hospitable for man and nature single chord of social life. He saw alike. At first I thought it was sad that sociology as a quintessentially almost no one from my own interdisciplinary subject that was department knew of this man. Yet, on essentially the science of man’s further reflection I saw this as a interaction with a natural environment, refreshing change from the celebrity and improved urban planning was one academic culture of today where many of the key applications of academics brandish their publications, sociology. Geddes revived the Old yet have very little substance or no Town of Edinburgh using his ground effect on the world. breaking concepts of ‘diagnostic surveys’ and ‘conservative surgery’, A true learner, Geddes believed that which he went on to implement in one learned not by sitting in ivory town planning projects across towers but by being in the world, by Scotland, and the Middle East. In walking in the world, by observing and fact, is a city whose core was asking and listening to people and entirely built around Geddes’ plan. He incorporating their ways of life and also introduced the concept of ‘region’ their natural environment into the to and planning and coined design of sustainable solutions. the term ‘conurbation’.

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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

Early life and influences: Europe’s progressive and radical Born in October 1854 at Ballater in thinkers. West Aberdeen, Scotland, Patrick Geddes was raised and educated in the CONCEPTS countryside of Perth. His was a childhood spent gardening with his Patrick Geddes explained an father, conducting science experiments organism’s relationship to its in the shed, exploring the nearby environment as follows: woods and cliffs; and these experiences taught Geddes deep “The environment acts, through lessons in , inspiring his function, upon the organism and personality and career. As mentioned conversely the organism acts, earlier Geddes had a lifelong contempt through function, upon the for examinations and never took a environment.“ ( in , university degree. After a period of 1915) private study, he chose to study Botany at the (1874), In human terms this can be but left after one week. He then went understood as a place acting through on to study Botany and Zoology with climatic and geographic processes individual teachers and mentors in upon people and thus shaping them. London and Paris. In London, he At the same time people act, through trained at the Royal College of Mines, economic processes such as farming under the great biologist and and construction, on a place and thus evolutionist of the time, Thomas shape it. Thus both place and folk are Huxley, whose influence on Geddes is linked and through work are in said to have been profound . Being a constant transition. student of Huxley opened doors for him to study in France, and he subsequently trained at the Sorbonne Geddes and the valley University . From then on and for the rest of his life, he was an ardent section Francophile, enjoying an empathy with • Geddes first published his idea France and French intellectual ideas of the valley section in 1909 to which greatly influenced his thinking. illustrate his idea of the 'region- It was during this time that Geddes came into contact with some of city'.

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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

• The region is expressed in the • Such theory is most city and the city spreads prominently used because influence of the highest level planning cities in a particular into the region. shape pattern is not possible in • To put it another way, Geddes Today’s times. said that "it takes a whole region to make the city”. Geddes and the • The valley section illustrated Conurbation Theory the application of Geddes's trilogy of 'folk/work/place' to • The term "conurbation" was analysis of the region. coined in 1915 by Patrick • The valley section is a complex Geddes in his book Cities In model, which combines Evolution. physical condition- geology • Internationally, the term and geomorphology and their "urban agglomeration" is often biological associations - with used to convey a similar so-called natural or basic meaning to "conurbation". occupations such as miner, • Conurbation” -waves of hunter, shepherd or fisher, and population inflow to large with the human settlements that cities, followed by arise from them. overcrowding and slum formation, and then the wave Geddes and the of backflow – the whole constellation concept process resulting in amorphous sprawl, waste, • This CONSTELLATION and unnecessary THEORY was also coined by obsolescence. Sir Patrick Geddes , “4 or more cities, which are not A conurbation is a region comprising economically, politically, a number of cities, large towns, and socially equal come together in other urban areas that, through developing a whole region” population growth and physical • This theory is mostly used for expansion, have merged to form one administrative purpose in all continuous urban and industrially countries worldwide. developed area.

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International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS

LEARNING BY DOING Geddes, P. (1920). The Life and Work of Sir Jagadis C. Bose: An Indian Pioneer of Science: with Portrait and Patrick Geddes believed that education Illustrations. Asian Educational was a catalyst for social change and Services.

active citizenship. He explored the ways in which people learn more Geddes, S. P. (1979). Civics: as effectively. He developed an applied sociology (pp. 75-97). Leicester: Leicester University Press. educational philosophy which emphasized the combination of ‘hand, heart and head’, in that order of priority.

He believed learning should engage the emotions, and include physical activity. This included ‘learning by doing’, as well as more traditional methods of learning from books and lectures. Geddes also promoted an interdisciplinary approach to learning, highlighting the useful connections and synergies between different subject areas and disciplines.

REFERENCE:

Geddes, P. (1949). Cities in evolution (Vol. 27, pp. 109-123). London: Williams & Norgate.

Geddes, S. P. (1915). Cities in evolution: An introduction to the town planning movement and to the study of civics. London: Williams & Norgate.

Mumford, L., Geddes, P., & Novak, F. G. (1995). Lewis Mumford and Patrick Geddes: The Correspondence. Psychology Press.

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