Enforcing Social Standards? Regional Elites and Local Society in Early Medieval Western India

The rise of far right in India at present has created an atmosphere of growing cow vigilantism causing havoc in the lives and livelihood of minorities, especially Muslims and Dalits. As per news reports, vigilantism by various right-wing fringe groups had killed forty-four people in three years by 2019.1 Such incidents are still continuing, two Muslims being the latest victims in the Saran district of Bihar in March, 2023.2 By the year 2020, over fifty fatalities were recorded where victims were either lynched or thrashed, either on suspicion of cow slaughter or cattle trade.3 Needless to say none of the accused, mostly belonging to Hindu upper caste, have been punished so far. The impact of such vigilantism has also resulted in the collapse of the cattle market and animal farming, especially in north India.