Kanpur Unveiled

This study of the emergence of Cawnpore as an urban centre as a subjects of historical research may appear to be slightly unconventional. However as a student of history and a resident of Kanpur, I have reasons to justify it. Whatever the protagonists of small is beautiful or urbanization may say, the history of past two centuries points towards a constant growth of super cities and urban centres. These centres are seats of economic power as well as centers of natural and global power politics. It has been observed that many trends of national growth are more or less an extension of the growth of these urban centres. Thus a study of the urbanisation can give a basis for understanding the nation's growth in its true perspective and with all its ramifications.

Political history at macro and micro level have been traditionally associated with policies of British government and resistance put up by Indians. Such studies do not provide a convincing account of the diverse socio-economic changes and forces governing the destiny of the people. Therefore this study focusses on the economic forces at micro level and analyses the economic and technological factors working behind them.