TEACHING-LEARNING PLAN
Semester: I Academic Session: 2025-26
Program: M-PLAN Batch: 2025-2027
Course Code: UP 101 Credits:3 (1-0-2)
Course Name: Planning History and Theory
Faculty: Kratika Shukla
Course Objective:
Course Objective: Planning History covers ancient and medieval cities in India and
Mughal and colonial built environments in the country. In Planning History course, the
following objectives are followed:
• To critically understand economic, political, cultural, social and other forces shaping
o built environments in history.
• To examine the significance of histories as they in form the present planning of settlements.
As far as Planning Theory is concerned, the chief goal is not to replace conventional
theories with non-conventional ones, but identify under what conditions any set of
theoretical propositions hold. Hence, identifying conditions which determine
development and planning outcomes is crucial. One assumption that underlies this
pedagogical approach is that it encourages unconventional thinking, and reflection in
action—and not planning prescriptions based on pre-conceived ideas. Following are
the course objectives of Planning Theory:
• To learn to have a general, and substantive command of the spectrum of past and present
perspectives regarding planning theory.
• To learn to write clearly and concisely about abstract planning concepts.
Course Outcomes:
Upon the completion of this course, the students would be able:
• To demonstrate appreciation and knowledge of histories of planning.
• To explain and analyse abstract theoretical formulations.
Week Topics Assignments
Introduction to Planning History and Theory – scope, Short note: Relevance of Planning History
1
objectives, importance in urban & regional planning. in Present-day Urban Planning.
Unit 1: Ancient Cities – Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal; Diagrammatic sketching of Harappan town
2
city form, planning, and architecture. plan.
Chola dynasty towns (Thanjavur, Kanchipuram, Madurai); Comparative chart: Features of Chola vs
3
comparison with northern Indian medieval towns. North Indian Medieval Towns.
Medieval Indian cities: Varanasi, Nagapattinam, role of Group discussion: Why India did not
4
religion, trade, and power in shaping towns. urbanize during the Medieval period?
Assignment: Sketch plan of Shahjahanabad
Unit 2: Mughal cities – Shahjahanabad, Agra, Fatehpur
5 (Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid
Sikri; morphology, urban character, royal patronage.
axis).
Vijayanagara city and southern India; Portuguese colonial Case review: Cultural influences in
6
towns (Goa, Daman, Diu, Cochin). Portuguese settlements in India.
Week Topics Assignments
Colonial towns under British rule: New Delhi, Bombay, Map exercise: Identify colonial planning
7
Calcutta, Madras; cantonments and port towns. features in New Delhi.
Planning legislation & governance in colonial India
Write-up: Patrick Geddes’ contribution to
8 (Improvement Trusts, Municipalities); contributions of
Indian Planning.
Patrick Geddes.
Unit 3: Early Urban Theories – Concentric Zone Theory
Diagrammatic representation of the three
9 (Burgess), Sector Theory (Hoyt), Multiple Nuclei Theory
models with Indian examples.
(Harris & Ullman).
Land Value & Land Use Theories – Von Thünen, William Exercise: Relating Alonso’s theory to a
10
Alonso; concepts of rent, accessibility, urban expansion. contemporary Indian city.
From World City to Global City – Concept, indicators, case
11 Short essay: Is Mumbai a Global City?
examples (London, New York, Mumbai).
Unit 4: Rational Planning Model and Advocacy Planning Debate: Rational vs Advocacy Planning in
12
Model – features, merits, criticisms. Indian context.
Political Economy Model and Equity Planning Model – Case analysis: Equity issues in Delhi’s
13
theories and applications in developing countries. planning.
Radical Planning Model and Collaborative Planning Theory Group activity: Design a participatory plan
14
– participatory planning approaches. for a slum upgrading project.
Revision and integration: Linking Planning History with Submission of consolidated portfolio of
15
Planning Theories; relevance for 21st century planning. assignments.
Final studio presentation: Students present case studies, End-term internal evaluation (Presentations
16
theory applications, and reflections. + Viva).
Text Books and References:
1. Allmendinger ,P.(2017)Planning Theory, Macmillan,London.Third Edition.
2. Buch ,M.N.(1987)PlanningtheIndianCity,VikasPublishing,New Delhi.
3. Fainstein ,S.S.and DeFilippis,J.(Eds.)(2016)Readings in Planning
Theory,Wiley,London.Fourth Edition.
4. Friedmann,J.(1987)Planning in the Public Domain,Princeton University
Press,Princeton.Second Edition.
5. Gooptu,N.(2001)ThePoliticsoftheUrbanPoorinEarlyTwentieth-CenturyIndia,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
6. Healey,P.(2010)Making Better Places:The planning project in the twenty-first
century,Palgrave Macmillan, London.
7. King, A.(1976)Colonial Urban Development:Culture,Social Power,and Environment,
Routledge and Kegan Paul,New York.
8. Kumar,A., Sanjeev,V., and Prakash,P. (2020) City Planning in India, 1947-2017,
Routledge,New York.
