ABSTRACT
Growing concerns exist over whether Western planning paradigms have global relevance and, hence, applicability to non-Western settings. Universal application of Western practices has been criticized for overlooking the potential contributions of non-Western planners. This chapter provides an overview of Western planning paradigms as applied in Calcutta. It describes the formidable problems confronting Calcutta, so as to reveal the context in which efforts at planning and development must take place. The chapter reviews the promotion and application of American and Western planning paradigms on the decidedly non-Western city. It provides a feasible planning alternative which integrates foreign and indigenous planning while viewing the city in a global context. Calcutta differs from Western cities in nearly every facet of urban life. Calcutta’s position within the Ganges delta plays a significant role in the city’s development. The primary city in its region, Calcutta has grown in a linear fashion along the Hoogly River which divides the city roughly in half.
