Globalisation, productive spaces and small town transformation: the case of machlipatnam and pedana in coastal Andra Pradesh

Abstract

Creative clusters can transform small towns into globally connected and independent productive spaces with no involvement of a nearby metropolis. Exogenous factors helped the kalamkari, marine fish processing and imitation jewellery industries in Pedana and Machlipatnam towns in the Krishna District of the state of Andhra Pradesh; they enabled scale jumping that was not dependent on Vijayawada, the closest metropolis. The historical paths of these towns facilitated the emergence of creative clusters and promote their connections in India and abroad. This in turn affected the transformation of the physical space, though it has not improved the quality of life of the artisans and labourers involved in these industries.