Cooperation and Conflict: State-Religious Interactions in a Fisher Slum Rehabilitation Programme in Kerala, India

This ethnographic study examines a slum rehabilitation programme in Mathipuram, Vizhinjam, a Muslim fisher settlement in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The study explores how state-sponsored programmes unfold in a religiously dominated society where religious bodies, especially the local Juma-ath (Mosque Committee), have historically functioned as a parallel state, controlling the social, political, and economic lives of the community. The study utilises a baseline semi-structured survey, along with interviews with ward councillors, political leaders, religious authorities, and community members to trace the dynamics between various stakeholders. The fisher population in Kerala, often considered 'outliers' to the state's developmental model, continues to face significant social and economic marginalisation. In Vizhinjam, recurring communal riots between the Christian (Mukkuvars) and Muslim (Maryakkars) fisher communities in 1962, 1982, and 1995 have further complicated the area's social fabric. In the 2000s, significant capital investments like an international deep-sea container port, further disrupted fisher livelihoods. Recognising the significant influence of religious authorities, the state has consistently relied on them as key intermediaries. These religious leaders have been instrumental not only in maintaining peace but also in helping to implement government schemes designed to improve the welfare of this marginalised group. The Juma-ath played a pivotal role in the rehabilitation effort by donating half of the required land and actively participating in every stage of planning and implementation. However, the process was not without challenges, as the interests of the state, religious authorities, and the community sometimes diverged. While religious authorities heavily influence the community, the people—particularly women, due to their higher levels of participation—began to recognise a growing dichotomy between religious and state affairs. The study sheds light on the complex interactions between state actors and religious bodies in a deeply religious society, highlighting both co-operation and conflict in the rehabilitation process.