Introduction
The urban landscape of colonial India was deeply shaped by British policies, ideologies, and socio-economic divisions. Many scholars describe colonial cities as “divided cities” because they were often split physically, socially, and economically between the colonizers and the colonized. In this post, we explore what made colonial cities divided and use examples to support this view.
1. What Does a Divided City Mean?
- A divided city refers to an urban area where clear separations exist between different social, ethnic, or economic groups.
- In colonial India, this division was primarily between the British rulers and the Indian population.
- These divisions were reflected in housing, infrastructure, services, and access to power.
2. Spatial Segregation
- British planned cities with clear separation of spaces for Europeans and Indians.
- The Civil Lines, Cantonments, and White Towns were exclusively for British officers and civilians.
- Black Towns or native areas were often congested, underdeveloped, and lacked sanitation.
- This separation reinforced a sense of racial and cultural superiority.
3. Economic and Occupational Segregation
- European quarters had better access to jobs, transport, and services.
- Indians, even the elite, were often denied entry into British clubs, institutions, and certain jobs.
- Indian traders, artisans, and laborers were largely confined to older, crowded city areas.
4. Examples of Divided Cities
Kolkata (Calcutta)
- The city was divided into the White Town (Fort William and Chowringhee) and Black Town (North Calcutta).
- The British area had wide roads, parks, and bungalows; Indian areas were densely populated with poor amenities.
Bombay (Mumbai)
- British lived in areas like Malabar Hill, while Indians lived in overcrowded areas like Girgaum and Byculla.
- The port and railway created employment, but housing and public services were skewed in favor of Europeans.
Delhi
- New Delhi, built in the early 20th century, was designed as a grand administrative center for the British.
- It stood in contrast to the older Mughal city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), which housed the Indian population.
5. Cultural and Legal Separation
- Different laws and moral codes were applied to British and Indian populations.
- Public institutions like clubs, parks, and hotels were often restricted to Europeans only.
- Language and dress also created invisible walls between the two communities.
6. Impact on Urban Development
- The dual-city model resulted in uneven development.
- While the European areas were clean and well-organized, Indian neighborhoods were often neglected.
- Even after independence, many cities retained these divisions in their urban fabric.
Conclusion
Yes, colonial cities in India can rightly be understood as divided cities. They were designed and governed in ways that kept the British and Indian populations separate in almost every aspect of urban life—from housing and infrastructure to jobs and leisure. This urban division not only reflected colonial ideologies of racial superiority but also laid the foundation for modern-day inequalities in Indian cities.