Public Space and Life in an Indian City: The Politics of Space in Bangalore by Salila P.Vanka A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Urban and Regional Planning) in the University of Michigan 2014 Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Gavin M. Shatkin, Co-Chair Associate Professor Scott D. Campbell, Co-Chair Associate Professor William Glover Associate Professor David E. Thacher For Siddharth & Arnav ii Acknowledgements Thanks to Gavin for his invaluable guidance, unwavering support and compassion through the dissertation process. Scott, whose own work inspired me to explore the world of planning theory. Will and David, whose motivated teaching illuminated the path of my work. Susan, for setting me on the path of planning research, first in UT-Austin and later in doctoral studies. Barjor, for my first job as an urban researcher in CEPT. Shrawan, for his enthusiasm and encouragement. To my mother and father, for making all this possible. Siddharth and Arnav, who taught me to celebrate life at all times. Sai, for his help through my studies. Lalitha attayya, for rooting for me all along. Sushama, Ragini, Sapna and Alpa – my strong companions for life. Becky, Sabrina and Sahana, who reflect the best in their mothers. Pranav, for keeping me focused in the crucial last lap to the finish line. Sweta, who inspires me by example. Parul and Chathurani, my friends and cheerleaders. Nandini, Neha, Nina, Prabhakar, Hamsini, Prasad, Bill, Dhananjay and Cathy for their kind help. To Deirdra and Doug, for the most enjoyable exam preparation (and food) sessions. The faculty, staff and my colleagues at TCAUP. Vinay, Leo, Bhargavi, Solly, and Kathyayani for their help and guidance. And finally, to all my respondents in Bangalore whose hospitality and generosity in sharing time and knowledge made this research possible. iii Table of Contents Dedication ii Acknowledgment iii List of Graphs vii List of Figures viii List of Pictures ix List of Appendices xii Abstract xiii Chapter One An Inquiry into the Politics of Public Space in Bangalore 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Problem Statement 4 1.3 The politics of public space, master planning and civic engagement in 8 Indian cities 1.4 Research Design 15 1.5 Organization of Chapters 18 1.6 Contribution to Planning Theory and Practice 21 Chapter Two The “Public” in Space, Society and Governance: A theoretical framework 2.1 Introduction 25 2.2 Spatial politics and democracy in Indian cities 29 2.2.1. Public Space 30 2.2.2. Master planning in India 43 2.2.3. The Right to the City 50 2.2.4. Summary 55 2.3 Conclusion 57 Chapter Three Planning and Politics of Public Space in Bangalore: History and Present 3.1 Introduction 60 3.2 Bangalore: Peté to InfoTech City 63 3.3 A history of public space in Bangalore 70 3.3.1. The pre-colonial peté 71 3.3.2. The peté and Cantonment 75 3.3.3. Planning public space in postcolonial Bangalore 82 3.4 The politics of public space in Bangalore 86 3.4.1. Tanks / Lakes 87 3.4.2. Parks 91 3.4.3. Streets 94 3.4.4. Markets 97 3.5 Case Studies 100 3.5.1. KR Road bamboo weavers and Metro project: private claims to a 101 public sidewalk iv 3.5.2. The Tree as a Metaphor for the City – The activism of Hasiru Usiru 102 3.5.3. Park politics in 3rd Block Koramangala 103 3.6 Conclusion 104 Chapter Four Private claims to public space: Urban renewal and subaltern politics on KR Road 4.1 Introduction 105 4.2 The bamboo weavers and Krishna Rajendra Road 110 4.2.1. KR Road as social and economic space 112 4.2.2. The weavers and government – illegalities and invisibility 118 4.2.3. The weavers and the dalit leader – politics of protection and 121 exploitation 4.3 The Metro project – contradictions in public interest and accountability 127 4.3.1. Metro project on KR Road 132 4.3.2. Official and subaltern claims to public space 136 4.3.3. Subaltern voices and claims to the city 140 4.4 Spatial politics of slums and vending 142 4.4.1. Policies and politics of street economies 143 4.4.2. Strategizing the language of slums 145 4.4.3. The politics of public space and public housing 151 4.5 Conclusion 156 Chapter Five Hasiru Usiru: The Tree as a Metaphor for the City 5.1 Introduction 165 5.2 Hasiru Usiru - origins and politics 169 5.3 The road widening PIL and court ruling 181 5.4 Hasiru Usiru and middle-class activism for public space 193 5.5 Conclusion 203 Chapter Six Park Politics and Elite Activism: A Case Study of Anti Encroachment Mobilizations 6.1 Introduction 207 6.2 The politics of civic amenity sites in Bangalore 211 6.2.1. Definitions and meanings of public space in the Bangalore 212 masterplan 6.2.2. Civic amenity sites as contested spaces 222 6.3 The PO Ground politics 227 6.3.1. Life on PO Ground, 3rd Block Koramangala 227 6.3.2. BDA allocations and the court case 231 6.3.3. The cricket camp and the MLA 247 6.3.4. The MLA and 3rd Block residents 255 6.4 Conclusion 264 v Chapter Seven A Discussion of Research Findings and Contributions to Planning Theory and Practice 7.1 Introduction 269 7.2 Summary and contributions of case studies 271 7.2.1 The KR Road sidewalk case 273 7.2.2. The Hasiru Usiru case 274 7.2.3. The PO Ground case 276 7.2.4. Summary 276 7.3 Contribution to planning theory 279 7.4 Contribution to planning practice 283 7.5 Implications for planning pedagogy 288 7.6 Directions for future research 289 Appendices 293 References 299 vi List of Graphs Graph 3.1. Population Growth in Bangalore City, 1871-2011 66 Graph 3.2. Bangalore City Corporation Limits 1949-2011 66 Graph 3.3. Decadal Decline (percent) in Agricultural Sector in Bangalore 67 vii List of Figures Figure 3.1. Maps of India and Karnataka 64 Figure 3.2. Map of Bangalore City 65 Figure 3.3. Map of Bangalore Peté 72 Figure 3.4. Maps of Bangalore Fort, Peté and Cantonment, 1850 & 1895 76 Figure 3.5. 1924 Map showing the fort, peté, Cantonment, Cubbon Park 80 and military grounds Figure 3.6 Map of Basavannagudi, 1996 82 Figure 4.1 KR Road in 1961 111 Figure 4.2 Land use on KR Road sidewalk 115 Figure 6.1. Land use on PO Road 229 Figure 6.2. PO Ground before and after park 230 viii List of Pictures Picture 3.1. Bangalore Fort with policemen in the foreground 73 Picture 3.2. Preparations for Karaga Jatre in KR Market 74 Picture 3.3. Dodda peté, now known as Avenue Road 74 Picture 3.4. Byelane on Avenue Road with a temporary shrine installation 74 Picture 3.5. Blenders and kitchen implements for sale in Chikpeté 74 Picture 3.6. Large cooking utensils for sale in Chikpeté 74 Picture 3.7. The village shrine next to Bellandur Lake in Bellandur village 75 Picture 3.8. Somberi katte or idler’s platform on the main street of 75 Bellandur Picture 3.9. Army Barracks on Cubbon Road 79 Picture 3.10. Furniture shops on Infantry Road 79 Picture 3.11. Commercial Street 79 Picture 3.12. A bye lane in the General Bazaar 79 Picture 3.13. Fruit-sellers on street in Basavannagudi 79 Picture 3.14. Conservancy lane in Basavannagudi 79 Picture 3.15. Shop in Gandhi Bazaar with vegetables spilling over 81 Picture 3.16. Sidewalk in Gandhi Bazaar Market, Basavannagudi 81 Picture 3.17. Shopkeepers step out to worship deity 81 Picture 3.18. Flower vendor with shop set up on Gandhi Bazaar street 81 Picture 3.19. Bellandur Village Lake 88 Picture 3.20. Lal Bagh Lake 88 Picture 3.21. Ulsoor Lake 89 Picture 3.22. Sankey Tank 89 Picture 3.23. Lal Bagh, the city’s historic botanic garden. 92 Picture 3.24. Cubbon Park 92 Picture 3.25. Park in Jayanagar locality 93 Picture 3.26. Krishnarao Park 93 Picture 3.27. Richmond Park 93 Picture 3.28. Gated park in Arikere locality 93 Picture 3.29. RWA Signboard outside Children’s Park in Defence Colony 93 Picture 3.30. RWA Signboard outside Senior Citizen’s Park in Defence 93 Colony Picture 3.31. Infantry Road 96 Picture 3.32. Airport Road 96 Picture 3.33. All India Radio Road 96 Picture 3.34. Ulsoor Road 96 Picture 3.35. Road work to accommodate Metro project on Chinmaya 96 Mission Hospital Road, Indiranagar Picture 3.36. Metro work passing by a slum on 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar 96 Picture 3.37. KR Market, the peté’s oldest market 99 Picture 3.38. Annual peanut festival on street outside the historic Bull 99 Temple in Basavannagudi Picture 3.39. Gandhi Bazaar Market 100 Picture 3.40. Madivala Santhe 100 ix Picture 4.1. Doddapeté 110 Picture 4.2. Chikpeté 110 Picture 4.3. KR market, Bangalore Peté 111 Picture 4.4. Police on KR Road 119 Picture 4.5. Bamboo baskets waiting to be transported to KR Market 120 Picture 4.6. Equipment for weaving bamboo blinds under a makeshift 120 canopy Picture 4.7. The sidewalk as domestic space 120 Picture 4.8. Selling bamboo wares to passers-by 120 Picture 4.9.