Why Planners? – An Indian Mindset

In a world full of engineers, architects, and cartographers, why do we need planners? 

To answer this, we must first understand who planners are and what they do. As stated by Kevin Lynch in his masterpiece The Image of the City, a city is an integration of five core elements—paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. These components shape how individuals perceive and navigate the urban landscape. While each element plays a unique role, who brings them together into a cohesive whole? Who draws the bigger picture from the individual strokes? 

A planner. 

The city of Rains - Bangalore

Architects design stunning built forms. Engineers focus on infrastructure and usability. Cartographers craft maps and facilitate navigation. Each profession weaves a crucial thread into the urban fabric. However, when each focuses solely on its micro aspect, it becomes difficult to maintain coherence at the macro level. This often leads to contradictions or negative externalities that affect the city as a whole. 

To avoid these pitfalls and ensure harmony among the elements, planners act as the adhesive—integrating, aligning, and guiding various components into a unified vision. 

Coming from India, planners are often misunderstood as wedding or event coordinators. This misconception stems from a long-standing neglect of the concept of city planning. For years, normative ideologies sidelined both plans and planners. But in the past decade, a wave of transformation has taken hold. With the formation of organizations like NITI Aayog and increasing international collaboration, India has begun to recognize the critical role of planning. A new era of leadership and development is emerging. 

India’s planning process is rooted in two significant constitutional amendments—the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts (CAA) of 1993-94. The 73rd CAA emphasized the formation of rural governance institutions, while the 74th outlined the functions of urban local bodies. States were further required to establish development authorities in urban and metropolitan regions to oversee and guide necessary growth. 

Historically, these roles were assumed by civil engineers, often referred to as "town planners," due to a limited understanding of planning as a specialized discipline — and a severe shortage of trained planners across India. The establishment of institutions like the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi, founded in 1941, marked a turning point. These institutions began producing professionals tailored to the complex needs of a developing nation. 

Planning in India comes with its own set of challenges. From the basic unit level, the country is deeply rooted in diverse cultures, religions, and traditions. This vibrant diversity is both a strength and a challenge — accompanied by disparities, divisions, and complex demands.

Addressing these intricacies from only a micro-development perspective can lead to imbalances and degradation of the overall system. 

If God was an Art

Moreover, in a country where financial resources are often constrained, implementing innovative and sustainable models becomes an uphill battle. Yet, states like Delhi, Gujarat, and Kerala have shown how a strong planning framework and a robust network of planners can overcome these hurdles and foster resilient development. 

In today’s age of global environmental crises and rapid urbanization, every plan, every zoning regulation, must be approached with foresight and responsibility. Planners are uniquely trained to anticipate future scenarios, analyze long-term impacts, and integrate strategies that are both adaptive and visionary. 

So, why do we need planners? 

To guide the future. To lead the development of cities, regions, and national policies. Planners, mindful of complexities and ground realities, envision and shape what lies ahead. Especially in developing countries like India, planners are not just necessary—they are essential.

The Human - Nature