Kinship and Urbanization - (Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies, Uc Berkeley) by Sylvia Vatuk (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Kinship and Urbanization: White Collar Migrants in North India delves into the social dynamics of rural-to-urban migration within India's burgeoning white-collar middle class. Focusing on a North Indian city, the study examines two key questions central to urban sociology: the transformation of kinship ties and the significance of neighborhood life in the urban environment. Drawing from participant observation and unstructured interviews, the book challenges the classic theories of urbanization, which often predict the erosion of family and community connections in modern cities. Instead, it uncovers how kinship networks adapt to urban life, providing crucial support to migrants navigating the complexities of a new social landscape.

By placing the experiences of urban migrants within the broader context of India's rapid modernization, the book highlights the enduring importance of both family ties and neighborhood associations. The narrative connects rural traditions with urban realities, revealing how urbanization reshapes, rather than replaces, established social norms. This nuanced exploration offers valuable insights into the changing social fabric of contemporary India, making it a critical read for scholars of anthropology, sociology, and South Asian studies.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1972.