Citizenship, Caste, and Electoral Mobilization: The Rise of the Matuas (Namasudras) in Contemporary West Bengal
Key Words: Partition, Namasudra, Matua Mahasangha, Caste, Class, Citizenship, Electoral Politics
This article examines the historical transformation and contemporary reconfiguration of caste in West Bengal, with a particular focus on the Matua community of the Namasudras. It argues that the apparent absence of caste politics in the state is not indicative of its decline, but rather the result of a historically contingent process shaped by Partition, refugeehood, and the dominance of class-based political discourse under Left Front rule. Drawing on historical analysis, political sociology, and contemporary electoral developments, the study traces how caste-based mobilization, once prominent in colonial Bengal, was rearticulated in the post-Partition period through the imperatives of survival, citizenship, and rehabilitation.
The article further explores the partial resurgence of caste in recent decades through the political mobilization of the Matuas, particularly since the late 2000s. It shows that while the community has emerged as a significant electoral constituency, its assertion remains fragmented and mediated by dominant political parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Competing narratives of citizenship, welfare, and religious identity—especially in the context of debates around the NRC—have further complicated the articulation of caste as an autonomous political category.
By situating these developments within a broader framework of hegemony and identity politics, the article demonstrates that caste in West Bengal is simultaneously present and politically muted. It concludes that the re-emergence of caste does not represent a straightforward return to earlier forms of mobilization, but rather a contingent and mediated process shaped by overlapping identities and shifting political strategies.
Registration ID: IJVRA_702287 Published ID: IJVRA2603733
"Citizenship, Caste, and Electoral Mobilization: The Rise of the Matuas (Namasudras) in Contemporary West Bengal", IJVRA - International Journal of Versatile Research and Analysis (www.IJVRA.org), ISSN:2984-8903, Vol.4, Issue 3, page no.628-637, March-2026, Available :https://ijpub.org/ijvra/papers/IJVRA2603733.pdf
Paper Reg. ID: IJVRA_702287
Published Paper Id: IJVRA2603733
Research Area: Social Science All
Country: Gushkara, West Bengal , India
ISSN: 2984-8903 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.12 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2023
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