Synopsis The Urbanization history of nations reveal that the problems of urbanization and rural development generally emerge in the process of socio-cultural change representing a continuous effort to adopt various systems in society. Today urbanization is not only the migration from rural areas of village artisans and landless labour but also implies the movement of educated and skilled people to urban areas in search of better fortunes and better living conditions. In this process population becomes concentrated in urban areas, resulting ultimately in cities growth. Historically, process of modern urbanization began in India when country got freedom and developmental planning increased spurt in economic and industrial activity causing rapid urban growth. The present study Urbanization and Rural Development traces the historical evolution from the Indus valley civilization to the dawn of freedom and afterwards. Today urban life is a dynamic basis for most of the activities and processes we associate with modernization, economic development and social transformation. It also attempts to examine the impact of urbanization or rural growth and transformation of rural life style.