This book chapter explores how some sections of the poor aspire to carve a space for themselves and secure a sense of belonging in a city trying to be “world class”.
Author
Sriti Ganguly, Assistant Professor, Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Summary
Much of the scholarly literature on urban politics in Delhi discusses how the neoliberal vision of transforming the city into a world class or global city has shaped policies towards the urban poor and translated into eviction of slum dwellers.
The scholarship also foregrounds the contentious relationship shared by the poor with the city’s middle classes, where the latter have played a role in influencing urban governance. This chapter, however, tries to go beyond the narratives of exclusionary processes and explore how some sections of the poor aspire to carve a space for themselves and secure a sense of belonging in a city trying to be “world class”.
The chapter explains their efforts towards acquiring the cultural capital they think has paved the way for middle classes’ success.
Published in: Beyond Consumption: India’s New Middle Class in the Neo-Liberal Times
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