Subaltern Frontiers: Agrarian City-Making in Gurgaon

Gurgaon, a privately developed metropolis on the outskirts of New Delhi, is at the forefront of India's urban transformation. Subaltern Frontiers examines the politics of land and labor that have shaped the city, exploring how colonial instruments of land governance, living histories of uneven agrarian development, material geographies of labor migration, and peasant-agriculturalists' worldly aspirations filter the production of globalized property and labor.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Politicians, planners, and developers in urban and peri-urban areas across the Global South are engaged in a fierce race to reshape land for global real estate investment, transferring state power to private sector actors. This development has largely occurred on the fringes of traditional metropoles, in the territorially flexible urban frontier. In India, Gurgaon, a privately developed metropolis on the south-western outskirts of New Delhi, stands as a prime example of this trend. Subaltern Frontiers, a compelling book, delves into India's remarkable urban transformation by examining the politics of land and labor that have shaped Gurgaon. The book explores how the country's flagship post-liberalization urban project has been shaped and influenced by agrarian and subaltern histories, logics, and subjects. By doing so, it uncovers how the production of globalized property and labor in contemporary urban India is filtered through colonial land governance instruments, living histories of uneven agrarian development, material geographies of labor migration, and the worldly aspirations of peasant-agriculturalists.

Gurgaon, a privately developed metropolis on the south-western fringes of New Delhi, has long been hailed as India's flagship neoliberal city. However, the book reveals that Gurgaon's urban transformation is far from a straightforward tale of economic progress and modernization. Instead, it is a complex story that is shaped by the interplay of various political, economic, and social factors.

One of the key themes of Subaltern Frontiers is the role of land in shaping Gurgaon's urban development. The city has grown rapidly in recent decades, driven by the demand for housing and commercial space. However, the acquisition of land for these purposes has often been contentious, with local communities and farmers facing displacement and dispossession. The book explores how the state and private sector actors have colluded to exploit land resources, with the former abdicating its responsibility to protect the rights of marginalized communities and the latter prioritizing profits over social welfare.

Another important aspect of Subaltern Frontiers is the politics of labor in Gurgaon. The city has attracted a large influx of migrant workers from rural areas, who have been drawn by the promise of high-paying jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors. However, these workers often face exploitation and discrimination, with low wages, poor working conditions, and limited access to basic amenities. The book examines how the state and private sector actors have failed to protect the rights of migrant workers, with the former failing to provide adequate social safety nets and the latter exploiting their labor for profit.

In addition to the politics of land and labor, Subaltern Frontiers also explores the role of colonialism and imperialism in shaping Gurgaon's urban development. The city was originally developed as a planned industrial hub during British colonial rule, and the legacy of colonialism is still evident in its infrastructure, architecture, and cultural landscape. The book examines how the colonial instruments of land governance, such as land surveys, land acquisition laws, and land reform policies, have continued to shape the city's spatial and social landscape.

Furthermore, Subaltern Frontiers sheds light on the living histories of uneven agrarian development in Gurgaon. The city has grown rapidly, but this growth has not been evenly distributed across the city's population. Some areas have experienced significant urbanization and development, while others have remained marginalized and impoverished. The book explores how the legacy of colonialism, land dispossession, and economic inequality has contributed to these disparities, with some communities facing ongoing discrimination and marginalization.

Finally, Subaltern Frontiers examines the worldly aspirations of peasant-agriculturalists in Gurgaon. The city has attracted a significant number of rural-to-urban migrants who have left their agricultural livelihoods behind in search of better economic opportunities. However, these migrants often face challenges in adjusting to urban life, with limited access to education, healthcare, and social services. The book explores how the state and private sector actors have failed to address the needs of peasant-agriculturalists, with the former failing to provide adequate support for rural development and the latter exploiting their labor for profit.

In conclusion, Subaltern Frontiers is a valuable contribution to the study of urbanization and development in the Global South. The book provides a nuanced and critical analysis of the politics of land and labor that have shaped Gurgaon's urban transformation. By examining the interplay of various historical, social, and economic factors, the book sheds light on the complex and often contradictory processes that drive urbanization in the Global South. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the developing world.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 160 x 239 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009100472