Addressing social contestation through urban planning: a case of Lucknow

Abstract

From the start of the settlement there exist social political and economic orders on various levels. These aspects are dynamic and always affects inhabitants of the area. There has been a long history of social contestation between different subgroups all around the world. People from different sect, religion, beliefs etc. reside together in different geography. Different sects, race, social groups have their different sets of values which sometime contest with the other group. Sometimes it leads to social segregation. This leads to contestations between two or more groups. There are cities which have focal point for unresolved social contestation such as Medellin, Johannesburg, Jerusalem and others. Lucknow which is capital of Uttar Pradesh which is also the largest state of India, has witnessed highest no. of clashes in India between two minority religious groups. i.e., Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. Some of the Contestations happened in the year 1999, 2002, 2005, 2010 etc. accounting to many deaths and tensed environment in the city. Its impact is also seen in the neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Iraq and Iran. Infrastructural interventions are base of most of the development. It has got the capacity to change the economic as well as social status of an area or city. Any planning or infrastructural intervention done properly with the consent of citizens and engaging them in every steps from the scratch to the final shows positive economic and social results. It boost the economy, image and liability of the city on macro scale. On micro scale, it brings employment to individual, feeling of self-belonging to the place, moral responsibility to secure and upgrade the public infrastructure and strengthen community building. It narrows the gap between different social groups and between various subgroups in the society. Planning and Architecture imperatives play a major role in conceiving the idea of inclusion and peaceful coexistence in the society. Especially intervening in the marginalised areas of the cities so as to provide better facilities and infrastructure in terms of physical form. Socially, to eradicate the conflict between the different social groups residing in the area and to bring everyone on the same platform brings out the feeling of social inclusion.There are three different issue identified. First, it is found the major Contestation points lie near the heritage zone. Area is less dense with high density, high slum population and low literacy residents in the surrounding area. Second, in commercial area there is competition of economic supremacy between both groups. Last, Route of procession of Shia Julus passes through dominant Sunni Area in Muhurram Festival which is one of the major contributor of these contestations. Urban planning must be reconceptualised in polarized cities so that it can contribute meaningfully to the advancement of ethnic peace.