Mapping Ethnicization: Analytical Indices of Political and Cultural Mobilization within the Matua Community of West Bengal, India

This article constructs the first multidimensional, quantitative framework to measure ethnicization among the Matua community in southern Bengal, with broader comparative relevance. Eleven composite indices of identity, political mobilization, cultural practices, historical memory, religious influence, and socioeconomic dynamics were constructed, normalized, weighted, and spatialized using GIS on surveys and secondary data. The final index of ethnicization shows sharp territorial variation, with Gaighata and Bongaon exhibiting high ethnicization driven by strong institutions, whereas heterogeneous constituencies like Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj show low scores, reflecting intensified interparty competition. Findings demonstrate that ethnicization is multidimensional, spatially uneven, and shaped by institutional and political dynamics.