System of Rural Settlements in India : A Histogenetic Perspective

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. 1. General physical and cultural setting. 2. Demographic and caste structure. 3. Evolution of rural settlements. 4. Rural settlements: spatial distribution and types. 5. Pattern of rural settlements: a qualitative and quantitative analysis. 6. Rural dwellings and house types. 7. Social morphology: a case study of sample villages. Conclusions and suggestions. Glossary. Bibliography.

"The book comprises of seven chapters. First and second chapters deal with the characteristics of physico-cultural and socio-economic attributes of the region.

The third chapter throws a light on the evolution of settlements in sequent occupancy, geography of place names, evolution of territorial units through land occupancy of various zamindar clans. Fourth chapter presents an analytical study of spatial organization of settlement with the help of quantitative techniques and focused as how physico-cultural attributes regulate the affairs of the spatial organization of the settlement system. Chapter five describes the shape and pattern of rural settlements based on qualitative and quantitative approach and suggest a suitable model for the proper planning of settlement system keeping in view the present mushrooming of the settlements. Chapter six deals with the evolution of rural dwelling and focused the influence of ecological setting as well as the socio-economic conditions on house type. The last chapter presents an analytical description of social morphology of Indian villages based on the religio-ritual and secular-dominance model. The analysis shows that segregation is closely associated with the castes of the inhabitants, resulting in the formation of distinct settlement units." (jacket)