Mafia Raj: Ethnographic Notes on Intimidation in North India

Mafia Raj:  Ethnographic Notes on Intimidation in North India 

This paper explores how ‘dhamakana’ (to intimidate/ to instil fear) is central to everyday politicking in North India. Protection/extortion is at the heart of the careers of economic and political bosses (locally known as dabangs) in Western Uttar Pradesh. Drawing on long term fieldwork I  illustrate and analyse the micro-level interactions constituting the production of 'offers that cannot be refused'  by various actors: community leaders, elected dons, the local musclemen, the goons,  the money lenders, the police and state officers.  The paper shows how in instances of extortive relations often while the offer may be one the extorted cannot refuse, the process does demand a theatre of consent and thus implicates the extorted in the act. Understanding how people experience and rationalise their acts of consent is crucial to gaining insight into the lasting social relations and type of sovereignties  that…