Hegemony and Legacy: A Critical Study of the Dakhinpat Satra in Assam

Abstract

This paper examines the Dakhinpat Satra, one of the four Raj Satras of Assam, through the lens of Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony. While the Satra has historically played a pivotal role in shaping Assamese culture, religion, and politics, it has also exercised significant influence that can be interpreted as a form of religious hegemony. Drawing on historical sources, interviews with the satradhikar and bhakats, and a survey conducted in neighboring villages, the study analyses how the Satra’s authority has evolved from the seventeenth century to the present day. Findings reveal a tension between the Satra’s enduring spiritual appeal and growing public dissatisfaction, driven by caste-based practices, conservative policies, and changing lifestyles of its religious functionaries. The paper argues that unless the Satra adapts to contemporary socio-cultural realities while retaining its spiritual ethos, its social relevance may continue to diminish in a postmodern, globalized Assam.