[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Town Planning in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925) › c2 # Town Planning in Ancient India c2: Introductory Note Town Planning in Ancient India c2 - **Language:** English ### Introductory Note ### [c2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.1) Since the fundamental discovery of the world-importance of Sanskrit, not only for the philology of the Indo-European languages, but for the past of Aryan culture, there have been not a few further disclosures of the great past of India, and of the high levels attained, once and again, by its many and varied civilisations. Yet with all this increasing appreciation of ancient India—and not only among her own children, but throughout the world—most still tend to think her achievements as all in the range of the subjective life, as of religion, philosophy and poetry, and as without parallels on the material and constructive side, of man's life and work : or at any rate that while princes and men of fortune may have attained to artistic magnificence of life, the ordinary life of the people was poor and deficient ; as, alas, so much to-day. ### [c2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.2) Hence the value and significance of this book, as bringing out—not for the first time, but more clearly and extensively than heretofore—the evidence of a planned, organised and orderly life for all the people, in village, town and city alike. What better test, and proof, of true and general civilisation ? Given such ordered communitary life—and with adequate homes, as we also know, —we cannot but see that the conditions of health and well-being have of old been realised; and these not only long before our present mingled dilapidation of the past and confusion of the present, but on a level ahead of our present practical endeavours. We understand better too how such communities have been truly educated, in religion and philosophy, in literature and art, and these with many and varied flowers, of which the few that remain are evidence of the many that have been lost. The historical value of this scholarly book is thus manifest and real. ### [c2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.3) Yet beyond this, it is a sign of the times, and in the movement of our age. In well-nigh every country there is being recovered the best traditions of its past; and these not merely for memory’s sake, but towards the future also. And so in India. Why should not every village—in time even every villager—be helped to know that things were once better than now; and that there was ordered beauty here of old, whatever be the tumble-down confusion and insanitation of to-day? ### [c2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.4) India is indeed at the outset of a reconstruction movement, say rather, of a Reconstructive Period. It is no doubt a good beginning to revive domestic industries, but it is a yet better advance to be renewing the villages themselves; and these from agriculture homewards and towards the associated life; a life co-operative alike towards material efficiency and well-being and towards renewed and advancing culture. So while the Indian people are rightly cheered to have their foremost political leader insisting on the revival of home industries, they will soon be yet more rejoiced to know how their foremost poet—a world-poet as well, a creative educationalist too, making the first Applied Faculty of his new University—and a new one for all Universities—that of Village Reconstruction. In this great initiative of Indian renewal, Mr. Dutt’s book here before us has its definite place and use, since so full of historical information and that of practical suggestiveness. Thus, despite its studious calm, it brings inspiration for the opening generation; since in this a happily increasing number are preparing themselves for action. And this in no mere political sense; but above all as constructive citizens of their communities, in social service, local, regional and civic; and thus widening, to Indian; indeed thence even to stimulus and encouragement in lands beyond. ### [c2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.5) Limits of space prevent me from entering here upon the definite theses of this book, chapter by chapter. But this is not needed; for they are at once presented with due scholarship for the learned, and stated with due simplicity and clearness for the general reader. And all in such a way as to invite their co-operation; and this in the right spirit, of constructive renewal, in which scholar and peasant have each their part. ### [c2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2.6) PATRICK GEDDES --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c2) · Pramāṇa