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Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City
For the aspirational migrant, rich or poor, Gurgaon is the Millennium City, with its sleek malls, sky-scraping condominiums, safe and gracious gated colonies, tenement housing, and life-changing jobs. For corporations, it is the Mecca of opportunity, as countless Fortune 500 companies have flocked to its business towers and parks, at once spacious, elegant and convenient for doing business. For its older residents, a more intriguing fate could not have befallen their small town.
For the media it is the city that makes headlines, often for the wrong reasons -- brawls in pubs, crimes against women, dubious real estate transactions, mega traffic jams.
But Gurgaon's existence began as an obscure hamlet, and it has had several hoary incarnations before it acquired its present density, industry, wealth and civic fabric. It is this tangled tale, more thematic than chronological, that this book tells.
Veena Talwar Oldenburg has been witness to Gurgaon's astonishing evolution for over twenty years. This volume is the first ever rigorously researched narrative of the city's making that speaks to readers of modern history, audiences compelled by Gurgaon's bewildering growth and the very people who made it their home - now and for generations to come.
For the media it is the city that makes headlines, often for the wrong reasons -- brawls in pubs, crimes against women, dubious real estate transactions, mega traffic jams.
But Gurgaon's existence began as an obscure hamlet, and it has had several hoary incarnations before it acquired its present density, industry, wealth and civic fabric. It is this tangled tale, more thematic than chronological, that this book tells.
Veena Talwar Oldenburg has been witness to Gurgaon's astonishing evolution for over twenty years. This volume is the first ever rigorously researched narrative of the city's making that speaks to readers of modern history, audiences compelled by Gurgaon's bewildering growth and the very people who made it their home - now and for generations to come.
- GenresIndia
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2018
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Veena Talwar Oldenburg
6 books1 followerVeena Talwar Oldenburg is Professor of History at Baruch College and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is best known for her widely reviewed book on Dowry murder.
Oldenburg is a native of Lucknow, India. She has a bachelor's degree from Loreto Convent College and an M.A. from the University of Lucknow. She has a second master's from the University of Bridgeport which she earned shortly after immigrating to the United States in 1970 and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Oldenburg has previously taught at Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University. She is a 2016 Fulbright Nehru Senior Scholar.
Oldenburg is a native of Lucknow, India. She has a bachelor's degree from Loreto Convent College and an M.A. from the University of Lucknow. She has a second master's from the University of Bridgeport which she earned shortly after immigrating to the United States in 1970 and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Oldenburg has previously taught at Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University. She is a 2016 Fulbright Nehru Senior Scholar.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 13, 2019
This book chronicles the history of Gurgaon from ancient times to the present. It's surprising that Gurgaon has any kind of ancient history - one might be forgiven for thinking Gurgaon had sprung up in its present state in the early 90s.
The book doesn't follow any structure as such. It starts off chronologically but then moves to a theme based approach, for example chronicling the life of the villagers who owned the land that is present day Gurgaon, and the history of the companies founded in Gurgaon. The author had access to many who shaped the history of the city, and presented a balanced view of the people.
She had an unapologetic optimism about the city, which surprised me. Yes, the city has a lot going for it, but to present it like it's the undisputed best city in the country was unrealistic.
I visited Gurgaon for a two week stretch and it was disappointing, being followed and leched at when it was 3 pm in the afternoon. I suppose being rich enough to travel the city in a chauffeur driven car might make one blind to Gurgaon's problems.
My issue with this book was primarily that the author failed to point out the shortcomings of a fascinating city. I felt she had blinkers on and also assumed the rest of India was frozen in the 1980s, with only Gurgaon developing malls, world class hospitals and the trappings of liberalization.
Another issue was her obvious classism. For instance, one of the people mentioned in this book had lost a lot of money and was forced to travel in - shock, horror - a Maruti car! Just imagine that. This kind of writing is in poor taste, in a country with so many people in poverty.
The book doesn't follow any structure as such. It starts off chronologically but then moves to a theme based approach, for example chronicling the life of the villagers who owned the land that is present day Gurgaon, and the history of the companies founded in Gurgaon. The author had access to many who shaped the history of the city, and presented a balanced view of the people.
She had an unapologetic optimism about the city, which surprised me. Yes, the city has a lot going for it, but to present it like it's the undisputed best city in the country was unrealistic.
I visited Gurgaon for a two week stretch and it was disappointing, being followed and leched at when it was 3 pm in the afternoon. I suppose being rich enough to travel the city in a chauffeur driven car might make one blind to Gurgaon's problems.
My issue with this book was primarily that the author failed to point out the shortcomings of a fascinating city. I felt she had blinkers on and also assumed the rest of India was frozen in the 1980s, with only Gurgaon developing malls, world class hospitals and the trappings of liberalization.
Another issue was her obvious classism. For instance, one of the people mentioned in this book had lost a lot of money and was forced to travel in - shock, horror - a Maruti car! Just imagine that. This kind of writing is in poor taste, in a country with so many people in poverty.
June 19, 2019
Book Title: Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City
Author: Veena Talwar Oldenburg
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City
' clearly states the metamorphosis of a village named ' Gurugram ' to one of the busiest cities in Northern India, ' Gurgaon '
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a picture of skyscrapers and modern buildings depicting a well-developed city in infrastructure.
Inside the book:
In this book, the author has put forward the facts and figurines of a village changing to a city. This also amplifies the political reasons behind the changes occurred. Also, a part of the book is dedicated to the ancient history of the city.
What I like:
1. An honest attempt that showcases happiness and at the same time anguish when changes happen at a larger level.
2. The emotional turmoil of certain sections of people is scripted very well in the book in the form of some incidents.
3. The difference in making the public understand what real development is.
What I didn't like:
1. At a personal level when I don't belong to the North side of the country, it took a while to induce myself into the emotion of a city. But the author's narration has helped me in understanding the transition every citizen has gone through.
2. Somehow I felt that the author has failed to present before the readers the limitations a city when developed only at a superficial layer.
Narration:
A fine narration is found in the book.
Language & Grammar:
Good language and fine grammar are used.
My Final Verdict:
A one time read.
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Author: Veena Talwar Oldenburg
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City
' clearly states the metamorphosis of a village named ' Gurugram ' to one of the busiest cities in Northern India, ' Gurgaon '
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a picture of skyscrapers and modern buildings depicting a well-developed city in infrastructure.
Inside the book:
In this book, the author has put forward the facts and figurines of a village changing to a city. This also amplifies the political reasons behind the changes occurred. Also, a part of the book is dedicated to the ancient history of the city.
What I like:
1. An honest attempt that showcases happiness and at the same time anguish when changes happen at a larger level.
2. The emotional turmoil of certain sections of people is scripted very well in the book in the form of some incidents.
3. The difference in making the public understand what real development is.
What I didn't like:
1. At a personal level when I don't belong to the North side of the country, it took a while to induce myself into the emotion of a city. But the author's narration has helped me in understanding the transition every citizen has gone through.
2. Somehow I felt that the author has failed to present before the readers the limitations a city when developed only at a superficial layer.
Narration:
A fine narration is found in the book.
Language & Grammar:
Good language and fine grammar are used.
My Final Verdict:
A one time read.
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
March 4, 2019
A must read for residents of Gurgaon and those fascinated by the millennium City. The author has written a highly readable account of the growth of the city from a small Hamlet to the current avatar with a population of 25 lakhs.
She has also related interesting side stories like Sanjay Gandhi and maruti, the intrigue and corruption of mcg, huda, politicians and many others.
Chapters about the biodiversity Park, malls, Nathupur village, kingdom of dreams, are informative.
I myself came to stay in DLF Phase 3 in 1994 when the population of Gurgaon was about a lakh and have been a witness to the growth. It's heartening to read the author about the promising end to the chaos, water and electricity shortages with progressive development going on now.
She has also related interesting side stories like Sanjay Gandhi and maruti, the intrigue and corruption of mcg, huda, politicians and many others.
Chapters about the biodiversity Park, malls, Nathupur village, kingdom of dreams, are informative.
I myself came to stay in DLF Phase 3 in 1994 when the population of Gurgaon was about a lakh and have been a witness to the growth. It's heartening to read the author about the promising end to the chaos, water and electricity shortages with progressive development going on now.
November 18, 2018
A Clear and concise history of Gurgaon or Gurugram for that sake.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews