From Old Jaipur to Harappa, from ancient Benares to Bhopal, India’s ancient cities were bustling hubs of global trade and commerce, designed not only for the needs of their time, but also to address concerns that resonate today— from public health to environmental sustainability. Above all, they reflected an imagination and ambition for what great cities should be.

Today, as millions of aspirational young Indians migrate in search of better opportunities, the cities that will power India’s economy in the coming decades demand that we rediscover that imagination. Our urban centres must be well serviced by public transport, with adequate and affordable housing that give newcomers a foothold in the urban job market. They must be walkable and compact, designed to limit emissions and withstand the impacts of climate change. They must attract investment and global talent. But achieving this requires a new imagination for how we think about, manage, and plan our cities.

We asked seven of the most respected urban thinkers we know to share their imagination for Indian cities. In this short collection of essays, they share their vision for how India should think about her cities, so that we can once again build cities that do us proud.