Digital urbanism & diasporas: walking the cultural heritage of Calcutta's riverfront

印度城市经历了快速的城市化，对住房、基础设施和服务的需求不断增加，导致人口稠密，贫民窟和棚户区的低收入家庭和非正式人口增加，城市扩张。与此同时，数字技术的快速变革为城市决策者提供了新的机会，以采用智能解决方案来应对城市挑战，而智能城市规划提供了一个数字愿景，让所有公民都能平等地获得和参与安全、有保障、包容、健康和令人向往的城市生活。然而，目前尚不清楚“聪明的”城市化是否同样包容了移民和散居社区，挑战了平等和社会正义的概念。在这里，我们重点关注居住在印度最大城市之一加尔各答的移民社区的物质和非物质文化遗产。历史上被称为加尔各答的加尔各答有着悠久而丰富的贸易、商业和移民传统，这在当代社会、其传统、文化和做法以及建筑环境中都留下了持久的遗产。该项目将与当地侨民社区和社会企业合作，将重点放在胡格利河滨，参与、记录和共同策划遗产步行，讲述各种形式的未被充分代表的侨民遗产的故事。通过使用社交媒体和数字技术，以及公众散步和展览，将分享不同城市群体的多样性和传统，建立更多的认识和理解，重新形成地方感，并促进社会凝聚力。通过与市政当局、机构和政策制定者合作，该项目旨在改变对散居海外的遗产的看法和评价，并为区域和国家遗产保护政策提供信息。

Indian cities suffer rapid urbanisation increasing demand for housing, infrastructure and services, causing densification, an increase in lower income households and informal populations in slums and squatter settlements, and urban sprawl. At the same time, rapid transformations in the digital technologies offer new opportunities to city decision-makers in adopting smart solutions to urban challenges and 'smart' city plans offer a digital vision in which all citizens have equal access to and participation in a city life which is safe, secure, inclusive, healthy and desirable. However it remains unclear whether 'smart' urbanism is equally inclusive of migrants and diaspora communities, challenging notions of equality and social justice. Here we focus on the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of migrant communities living in one of India's largest cities - Kolkata. Historically known as Calcutta it has a long and rich tradition of trade, commerce and migration, which has left a lasting legacy in both contemporary society, its traditions, cultures and practices and also in the built environment. Working with local diaspora communities and social enterprises this project will focus on the Hooghly riverfront to engage with, document and co-curate Heritage Walks which narrate the stories of under-represented diaspora heritage in all of its forms. Through the use of social media and digital technologies, as well as public walks and an exhibition, the diversity and traditions of different urban groups will be shared, building increased awareness and understanding, a renewed sense of place and fostering social cohesion. By engaging with municipal authorities, institutions and policymakers this project aims to change the way diaspora heritage is viewed and valued and to inform regional and national heritage conservation policies.