Colonial imprints in contemporary urban livability: an inter-ward analysis of Kolkata

The urban areas in developing countries are notoriously infamous for their housing conditions and overall livability. Kolkata, a primary urban region of West Bengal, is the third most populous city in the country, with a population of over 14 million in 2011. It was also the Capital of the British India until 1912, and its urban structures and the segregationist approaches are evident even today in its urban livability. This research examines the contours of Kolkata’s colonial legacy on its current urban livability through the pervasive and persistent realities of its dilapidated housing structures and the conditions of its household traits and amenities. We use archival and textual discourse analysis, along with visual interpretations of ward-level 2011 Census household statistics to explore the continuation of colonial legacies in contemporary intra-urban spaces of Kolkata. This study traverses us through the spatially varying levels of urban livability in Kolkata which link these with imprints of colonial era’s segregationist flavors. This study provides helpful information on the current livable conditions and the persistent disparities among households in the 141 wards of Kolkata city. We hope these findings will help the urban planners and policy makers to better strategize sustainable urban development and improve the quality of life of Kolkata’s residents.