Events

CHAIRPERSON

Dr Michelle Miller, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

Despite the rapid transformation of India over the past two decades, and a swathe of publications dealing with the impact of globalization on the culture and economy of the subcontinent, and its large metropolitan cities, far less is known about the regional impacts of globalization, in particular, how globalization is transforming smaller, regional towns in India. Within the literature, the impact of globalization in India has been predominantly analysed in terms of the visible presence of transnational corporations, the spectacular manifestation of shopping malls and multiplex cinemas, and virtual consumption via globalized media. We contend that there is another global reality: the stagnation and/or uneven development in many of India’s regional towns and centres.

This presentation is part of a larger Australian Research Council funded project on Regional Globalization in India, comparing and contrasting Anand, Gujarat and Darjeeling, West Bengal. This presentation, which is based on empirical and qualitative research in Darjeeling carried-out from late December 2012 to January 2014, aims to address the following three areas: 1. [Briefly] the social history and growth of the Darjeeling; 2. the transformations of Darjeeling linked to neoliberal globalization which, we surmise, are leading to unique forms of development in Darjeeling; and 3. presents and analyses some of the initial findings from our interview data, in particular the uneven urban development, widescale environment degradation, and lack of heritage protection. Our research points to the contested nature of the social transformation of Darjeeling, determined by a complex array regional politics, migratory history, the geographic and social distinctiveness of the town itself, and current planning and development policies and programs. span class=”Apple-converted-space”>

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Tim Scrase  is Professor of Sociology in the Faculty of Education and Arts, Australian Catholic University (Melbourne). Prior to that, he spent eight years at the University of Wollongong (NSW) as Associate Professor of Sociology and Director, Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS). In the 1990s, he also taught Sociology at the University of Tasmania (Hobart) and Charles Sturt University. Professor Scrase is a past President of the South Asia Studies Association of Australia. He has been a Visiting Research fellow at the International Institute for Asian Studies, University of Amsterdam and at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata. He has previously published 5 books and over 60 research papers. His latest, co-authored book is: Ganguly-Scrase, R. and T.J. Scrase (2009) Globalisation and the Middle Classes in India: The Social and Cultural Impact of Neoliberal Reforms, London: Routledge.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP Mr Jonathan Lee via email: jonathan.lee@nus.edu.sg