Book Talk: Neoliberalism and Hindutva in the making of an Indian Smart City

In Professor Rakib Ahktar's book Neoliberalism and Hindutva in the Making of an Indian Smart City published by Cambridge University Press, Dr Rakib Akhtar examines how technology-driven urban development in India is shaped by the combined forces of neoliberal reform and Hindu nationalist politics. He shows how smart-city visions—often framed as symbols of innovation and sustainability—can also serve political interests, reshaping identity, citizenship, and power. While grounded in the Indian context, the book offers insights that resonate with Singapore and cities across Southeast Asia and beyond, where rapid digitalisation and market-oriented urban strategies intersect with questions of governance and social inclusion. The talk will discuss these wider regional implications for policy and practice.