Divine Dynasts: The Thakur Family and Matua Politics in West Bengal, India

Abstract

The paper aims to understand the role of religious authority in shaping and perpetuating political dynasticism in the realm of democratic Dalit politics in India. Based on ethnographic evidence from rural West Bengal, the paper shows the ways in which the Thakur family – the supreme religious leadership of the followers of the anti-caste Matua religion – has drawn and consolidated its political legitimacy as successors of a divine bloodline, and transformed itself into a “democratic dynasty” by repeatedly getting the members of the family elected to important offices for the purpose of particularly representing the interests of Dalit refugees. Why and how did the Thakurs (meaning, God/Master) emerge as political representatives of the Matuas? What has been the journey of the Thakur family in leading the main organisation of the community, the Matua Mahasangha, over time, and what challenges did they encounter in it? In what ways has the nature of the family leadership changed because of its engagement with party politics? Finally, how have the Thakurs dealt with the “democratic dilemma” to successfully make their representative claim as political leaders? The paper explores with these questions to reflect on the relationship between divinity and democratic leadership in contemporary Indian politics.