Book Description

This research has its ethnographic base in two adjacent villagers in the north-western part of Bangladesh. The villages Dhononjoypara and Gopalhati are examined in order to understand the changing leadership pattern in rural Bangladesh. The traditional leaders in a non-governmental organization is contrasted to the emerging leaders in newly-instituted government agencies. The study reveals a change in the institutions through which leaders can exert power due to government funded programmes and projects, but shows that the basic structure of the leadership remains unchanged. The educated descendants of the traditional leaders are the leaders in the new arena. The crucial importance of young sections of traditionally powerful families and the mechanisms that they have used for institutional change of power is highlighted in the book.