About the Author

Rumi Aijaz is Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi, India. His educational qualifications include a Master's in Geography (Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1992) and Regional Planning (School of Planning and Architecture, 1994), and PhD in Urban Governance (School of Planning and Architecture, 2004). He has been a post-doctoral visiting fellow at the Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK (2006). He is also an associate member of the Institute of Town Planners, India. He has worked with the non-government organisation 'Sanket' (1994-95), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (1996-1999 and 2004-05). He has also undertaken a study on gender for the Royal Netherlands Embassy (1996-97). During his education and professional career, he has been involved in numerous studies covering a range of social science topics such as urbanisation, transportation, socioeconomic and human development, ecology and physical environment, women empowerment and public health. His writings and views on different urban topics have found place in leading world journals, including Habitat International (Elsevier) and Journal of Asian and African Studies (Sage), and acknowledged by prominent Indian and foreign institutions and news agencies. His book titled Democracy and Urban Governance in India (Academic Foundation, 2012) describes innovative urban policy measures and governance practices designed and introduced by the Indian government at local government level to address contemporary urban challenges. Another edited volume titled Global Urbanisation Experiences (Academic Foundation, 2013), comprises 10 papers contributed by experts from Asia, Europe, Latin America and USA on important urban topics such as city planning and design, transport system, world city network, energy management and social exclusion.