Policy Archives

FEATURED

Screenshot

Photo Essay

May 1, 2026

Bridges

Author’s Note for Readers: The landscape photos of bridges aren’t necessarily the exact bridges written about. They are rather an impressionistic portrayal of bridges I have seen in general, through photos I have taken on my travels and liked. Perhaps the first bridge I remember was the one in the ravine where the temperature of […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Climate and Resilience , Housing

February 27, 2026

“The Factory in a Garden”: George Cadbury and the Garden Ethos in Today’s Urban Crisis

Introduction: An Industrialist Ahead of His Time In 1893, George Cadbury relocated his chocolate factory from central Birmingham to a semi-rural site that would become Bournville. His vision was radical for its time: a “factory in a garden” — where industrial production coexisted with green space, decent housing, recreation grounds and social amenities. Cadbury’s experiment […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Health

February 26, 2026

Reclaiming Utopian Urbanism: Lessons from Owen, Cadbury and Garnier for Contemporary Planning

Introduction: When Planning Had Moral Courage Urban planning today is deeply technical. We debate density thresholds, infrastructure deficits and mobility efficiency. Yet nineteenth- and early twentieth-century urban reformers framed the city not merely as a logistical challenge, but as a moral project. The experiments of Robert Owen, George Cadbury and Tony Garnier were not naïve […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Governance , Health

November 10, 2025

Tackling Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: Integrating Local and Global Insights

Delhi’s air pollution crisis is emblematic of urban environmental challenges worldwide, characterized by dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter and persistent exposure to toxic air, especially during winter months. In October 2025, Delhi recorded AQI levels firmly in the “Very Unhealthy” to “Hazardous” category, sparking renewed scientific and policy debates on mitigation strategies (AQI.in, 2025; […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Governance

October 20, 2025

Designing Infrastructure for Happiness: Building Cities that Feel as Good as They Function

As India’s cities race toward modernization, the conversation around infrastructure often centers on visible progress—flyovers, metros, bridges, and smart grids. Yet, beneath these tangible achievements lies a quieter but equally vital foundation: the infrastructure of happiness. If the first generation of urban plans focused on connectivity and utility, the next must focus on emotional ecology—building […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Health , News/Stories

October 11, 2025

From Happy Neighbourhoods to Happy Cities: Embedding Happiness in India’s Urban Master Plans

Introduction In recent years, the importance of happiness and well-being has increasingly been recognized in the context of urban development and public policy. Traditional metrics of progress, such as GDP and infrastructure indices, often fail to capture the psychological and social dimensions of urban life. India, currently undergoing rapid urbanisation, is at a critical juncture […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Climate and Resilience , Governance

April 2, 2025

Strategies for Urban Greening for Climate Adaptation: Cultivating Sustainable Cities

Introduction As cities worldwide grapple with the impacts of climate change, urban greening has emerged as a critical strategy for climate adaptation and resilience. Urban greening involves integrating green infrastructure—such as parks, street trees, green roofs, and gardens—into urban landscapes to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change while enhancing ecological health and community well-being. […]

Writer & Analyst

Asesh Sarkar

56 POSTS

...

FEATURED

Climate and Resilience

April 2, 2025

Food/Shelter Insecurity: A Global Crisis

Food insecurity, defined as the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food, remains a pressing global issue. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 690 million people were undernourished in 2019, with projections indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic could increase this figure dramatically (FAO, 2020). Food insecurity is often driven […]

Writer & Analyst