Political organization and the changing role of leadership: A study of the Athapahariya community

This paper attempts to analyse the role of changing leadership of a group called Athpahariya Rais of Dhankuta District in eastern Nepal. The discussion is centred on the powers assigned to the leader which allows him to control others in the group. Attempts are also made to show that although the structure of the larger national political system has changed over time, the traditional form of leadership and authority has remained safely intact and the 'new' leaders are the same old people who held power in the former traditional systems. It is argued that wealth, extensive kinship network and contacts with bureaucracy were the most important bases exploited to hold the traditional leadership and that these bases are equally important even today. Finally, it is noted that the traditional political system and leadership may change in the future, if the existing local resources, particularly land ownership dwindles further. Rapid population growth and outside contacts of people in the area may produce further variations in the political system and traditional leadership role of the Athpahariya Rais.