ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an outline of the historical background of the study. It deals with the 'tradition' in which it is rooted and the most important events that shaped the contents of the initial research proposal. The chapter also presents the most important pieces of theory determining this study's view on land markets, the government, and the housing situation of the urban poor, i.e. the major subjects of analysis. It explains a number of important theoretical conceptions and notions, influencing the perceptions and interpretations of Indian urban reality, which formed the basis for this study. The 'theoretical' section is followed by a detailed plan of the book. The chapter addresses the urban poor focuses upon the subject of 'housing mobility', one of the main research items from the outset. It concludes by a brief description of the methodology applied during fieldwork and analysis.
