CONTENTS
Undertaking i
Certificate iii
Acknowledgments v
Abstract vii
Table of Contents xi
List of Figures xix
List of Tables xxiii
1 RESEARCH DOMAIN AND OUTLINE 1
1.1 Context 1
1.2 Research Motivation 4
1.2.1 Identity Crisis 7
1.2.2 Global Identity – Language of Dominance 8
1.2.3 “Glocal” Identity – Language of the Hybrid 10
1.2.4 Local Identity – Language of Distinctiveness 12
1.3 Research Rationale 15
1.4 Research Questions 17
1.5 Objectives 18
1.6 Hypothesis 18
1.7 Research Design 20
1.8 Scope and Limitations 23
1.9 Chapterisation - Structure of the Research 27
2 LITERATURE REVIEW 31
2.1 Structure of the Literature Review 31
2.2 Concept of Identity 33
2.2.1 Identity as Structure and Process 36
2.2.2 Dual Nature of Identity 38
2.3 Development of Theoretical Foundations 40
2.3.1 Readings from Western History 40
2.3.2 Theoretical Outline - Western Context 44
2.3.3 Readings from Indian History 49
2.3.4 Theoretical Grounding - Indian Context 51
2.4 Fundamental Constructs 56
2.5 Operational Definition of Identity 57
2.6 Place Identity – Structure of Review 59
2.6.1 Chronological Development – Phenomenology of Place 60
2.7 Derivatives of Place Identity 63
2.7.1 Spirit of place - Genius Loci 63
2.7.2 Sense of Place 66
2.7.3 Place Attachment 67
2.7.4 Placeness, Placelessness and Non place 68
2.8 Structure of Place Identity 69
2.8.1 History of Place in Time 69
2.8.2 Geography of Place – Symbolic Landscapes 71
2.9 Meaning and Essence of Place Identity 72
2.9.1 Collective Memory 72
2.9.2 Narratives and Myths 73
2.10 Content of Place Identity - Shapers of Identity 74
2.10.1 Profiling the Elements 74
2.10.2 Generics and Specificities 77
2.11 Process of Place Identity - Transformation 78
2.12 Change as a Marker 78
2.13 Salient Features of Literature Compendium 81
3 METHODOLOGY 85
3.1 Introduction 85
3.2 Phenomenology as a Derived Approach 86
3.2.1 Phenomenon and Phenomenology 86
3.2.2 Philosophy of Phenomenology 88
3.3 Hermeneutic Phenomenology 89
3.3.1 Phenomenology in Indian Philosophy 91
3.4 Mixed Method 92
3.4.1 Concept of Wholeness 93
3.4.2 Concept of Parts - Identity Models 94
3.5 Data Collection Methods 96
3.5.1 Text and Document Sources 96
3.5.2 Survey and Interview 97
3.5.3 Varied Data Sources - Triangulation 99
3.6 Data Analysis Methods 101
3.7 Measuring Identity 102
3.8 Place Identity - Case Studies 106
3.9 Research Methodology 108
4 CASE STUDY – Chennai City 113
4.1 Delineation of the Case Study 113
4.2 Profile of Chennai City 114
4.3 Phenomenological Inquiry 116
4.3.1 Historical Profile 117
4.3.2 Chronological Outline 118
4.3.3 Existential Being - Topological Setting 126
4.3.4 Symbolic Landscapes 128
4.3.5 Binaries of Existence – Insideness and Outsideness 130
4.4 Perceptions of Identity 132
4.4.1 Classical Texts as Narratives 133
4.4.2 Representations of the City 135
4.4.3 Toponymy – Names and Meanings 136
4.4.4 Collective Memory – Meaning and Essence 137
4.5 Place Identity Survey 140
4.5.1 Data Collection – Pilot Survey 140
4.5.2 Visual Recall and Mental Mapping 141
4.5.3 Data Analysis – Pilot Survey 144
4.5.4 Semi Structured Interview – Data Collection 145
4.5.5 Semi Structured Interview – Data Analysis 146
4.5.6 Descriptive Analysis 149
4.6 Transformation and Manifestation 151
4.6.1 Structural Evolution - Urban Form 151
4.6.2 Power Dynamics – Paradigm Shift 154
4.6.3 Community Constructs of People 155
4.6.4 Visible Manifestation, Emergent Style and Typologies 156
4.6.5 Transformation Matrix 157
4.7 Classification of Elements 160
4.8 Selection Criteria of the Sample Study Areas 162
5 TWIN SETTLEMENTS – Mylapore and Triplicane 167
5.1 Introduction 167
5.2 Spirit of Place 169
5.2.1 Order of Nature 170
5.2.2 Temple and Ritual spaces 172
5.2.3 Temple and the Settlement 176
5.2.4 Streets – Madaveethi with the Activities 179
5.3 Transformation 182
5.3.1 Spatial Evolution 182
5.3.2 Temple as the Public Realm 184
5.3.3 Social Resonance in Place 185
5.3.4 Visible Manifestations 186
5.4 Collective and Distinctive Identity 189
6 COLONIAL SETTLEMENT – George Town 193
6.1 Introduction 193
6.1.1 Fabric to Identity 194
6.2 Spirit of Place 194
6.2.1 Chronology as an Identity Marker 196
6.3 Spatial Evolution 197
6.3.1 Native Settlements – Contained and Resisting Identity 197
6.3.2 Representational Space – Controlled and Assimilated Identity 199
6.3.3 Spatial Identities 202
6.4 Socio-Cultural Constructs 203
6.4.1 Quarters and the Streets – Contested Identity 204
6.4.2 Community and Ritual Spaces 207
6.5 Transformation 210
6.5.1 Spatial Connotation 210
6.5.2 Socio-Economic Connotation 211
6.6 Contested Identity of Binaries 212
7 TRANSITION SETTLEMENTS – Purasawakkam and Velachery 215
7.1 Introduction 215
7.2 Spirit of Place 217
7.2.1 Order of Nature 217
7.2.2 Temple and Ritual Spaces 220
7.3 Socio-cultural Construct 222
7.3.1 Streets as Identity Corridors 226
7.4 Transformation 229
7.4.1 Spatial Evolution 229
7.4.2 Eco Assets 231
7.4.3 Visible Manifestation 232
7.5 Conclusion – Adaptive and Adoptive Identity 233
8 CONCLUSION 237
8.1 Summary 237
8.2 Research Findings 243
8.3 Structure and Essence 244
8.3.1 Existential Being 244
8.3.2 Dichotomies 246
8.3.3 Collective Memory 246
8.4 Transforming Markers 248
8.4.1 Spatial Construct – Quarters and Corridors 248
8.4.2 Social Construct 249
8.4.3 Power Connotations - Shifting Paradigm 250
8.5 Dynamics of Power 251
8.5.1 Traditional Identities: Spiritual supremacy 251
8.5.2 Recreated Identities: Colonial classicism 251
8.5.3 Invasions and Invasive Identities 252
8.5.4 Identity by Contestation 252
8.6 Paradoxical Layers 253
8.6.1 Nature Defined Form 253
8.6.2 Temple as the Origin 254
8.6.3 Perception and Experience 254
8.7 Construction of Place Identity 255
8.8 Research Contribution 256
8.9 Areas of Further Research 263
References 268
Appendix 1: Eco-Regions –Symbolic Landscape 292
Appendix 2: The Ballad of People’s Park (Vazhi Nadai Chindhu) 293
Appendix 3: Urban Order of the Tamil Sangam Era 294
Appendix 4: Sources – Document Analysis 295
Appendix 5: Survey – Sampling Profile 300
Appendix 6: Survey: Format of Questionnaire 303
Appendix 7: Survey: Findings 305
Appendix 8: Transcript – Survey / Interview 307
Appendix 9: Glossary of Terms 310