An extract from the first edition of Webster’s Biographical Dictionary describes Sir Patrick Geddes as a Scottish Biologist and Sociologist, Professor of Botany, University College; Professor of Sociology and Civics, University of Bombay (1919).

Active in city planning in Great Britain and on the continent, he designed the Hebrew University building in Jerusalem. As the Director of the printing establishment of Geddes and Colleagues, which issued chiefly Celtic books, Patrick Geddes hasn't left any sphere of activity which would contribute to the welfare of the people.

Apart from places like Israel and England, he spent the best part of ten years in India to take up activities like survey and report upon approximately fifty different cities in India— from Bombay to Calcutta and Amritsar to Indore.

In one of the commissioned projects in 1917-18 by an Indian Ruler in Central India, despite innumerable hurdles and hardships, Patrick Geddes’ performance was praiseworthy. When he was engrossed in surveying the city of Indore carefully and thoroughly, (as the city was decimated by the plague and malaria) people around expressed their fear and anger at the Surveyor.

His Indian assistant had to translate their language due to the insistence of Patrick Geddes; “Well, if you must have it sir, they are saying, ‘That’s the old sahib that brings the plague!’ ” Having realised his predicament Geddes suggested to the home minister and the mayor a particular strategy. “Make me Maharajah for a day!” he cried.

“What do you mean?” asked the minister. After listening to the plan, the home minister obtained the Maharajah’s consent.

The Maharajah of Indore used to have 2 Royal processions yearly, one for Hindus and the other for Moslems on their respective important religious occasions.

Royal procession
Preparative work before the Dasara festival for the Royal Pageant was undertaken; the route for the procession will not be the usual Raja Marga (Royal route) but it would take a new route. That year Diwali coincided with New Year’s day, which was also considered as the ‘spring cleaning’ period.

The surroundings around Hindu Temples and Moslem Mosques were surveyed. With the help of the priests and mullahs Patrick Geddes and the mayor (a brahmin doctor), undertook vigorously cleaning of the areas. They claimed that, “In our six weeks of preparation, we took out some 6000 loads of rubbish with much inconvenience to the rats!”

The Dasara procession that year was grand and breathtaking. On that day, villagers from all parts, far and near, thronged the streets to enjoy the grand view. The celebration started with music, the cavalry, infantry and artillery, led by beautiful horses from the royal stables— decorated elephants etc— depicting everything wonderful to behold.

Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, was portrayed by a young actor in female dress— joy around Harvest was well exhibited. Many of the disturbing and pathetic aspects in the peoples' existence was communicated through melancholic music and ugly figures such as demons, tigers etc.

After this came cheerful music and a procession of 400 sweepers clad in spotless, white clothes. The village headman, a white-headed, stately old man was the leader. Patrick Geddes surprised everybody around by taking a marigold from the decorated broomstick for his buttonhole. The whole crowd cheered Patrick Geddes. The mayor, a brahmin, after congratulating him said— “Custom would not let me do that, as a brahmin, to an untouchable.”

He wrote, “Thus we perambulated pretty well the whole city for a long afternoon; and then woundup at dark at the public park, where the ‘Giant of Dirt’ and the ‘Rat of Plague’ were burned in a great bonfire; and their disappearance announced by fire works.”

Lewis Mumford in his introduction to Patrick Geddes in India states that— “the life and work of Patrick Geddes prefigure the age in which we now live.

“The tasks that he undertook as a solitary thinker and planner have become the collective task of our generation.”

It is heartening to know that there are several institutions in India and abroad working in line with his philosophy and fruitfully implementing his methods of approach.

SIR PATRICK GEDDES
(1854-1932)