SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Six years ago, an earthquake in western Gujarat claimed around fourteen thousand lives. Many people I already knew well from previous research in the region died, more lost relatives, homes and possessions. In this article, I review in general terms some of what happened to those who survived; I then turn to critically look, as an anthropologist, at the implicit assumptions that have driven aspects of post-earthquake reconstruction, particularly in relation to (sub)urban design and industrial development in rural areas.