Archive · 3 Sep 2026
BJP MLA's Son's Foot-Washing Ceremony Sparks Tribal Dignity Controversy
A video from a birthday celebration showed a tribal woman washing the feet of Ritwik Kumar Surolia.
Ritwik is the son of BJP MLA Rajesh Kumar.
The event happened in Kaugachi on Tuesday.
Ritwik said the act happened suddenly and was not planned.
He said he did not want to stop the woman immediately because he did not want to disrespect her culture.
Afterward, he bowed and touched her feet.
Critics said the scene suggested an unfair social hierarchy.
A tribal organisation and an RSS-linked social group also said the gesture was inappropriate or unfortunate.
A video showed Ritwik Kumar Surolia, son of BJP MLA Rajesh Kumar, having his feet washed by a tribal woman at his birthday event.
The ceremony took place in Kaugachi’s Adibasi Para in Shyamnagar, North 24-Parganas, on Tuesday.
Ritwik acknowledged the video, saying the act was unexpected, culturally motivated and against his conscience.
A longer video showed Ritwik bowing before the woman and touching her feet after the washing.
Opposition critics and a tribal organisation questioned the gesture, while a Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram official called it unfortunate and avoidable.
- Who
- Ritwik Kumar Surolia, son of BJP Jagatdal MLA Rajesh Kumar, and a tribal woman were involved; critics included Gargi Chatterjee and Rabin Soren.
- What
- A video showed the woman washing Ritwik’s feet and applying a tilak during his birthday ceremony.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Kaugachi’s Adibasi Para, Shyamnagar, North 24-Parganas.
- Why
- The ceremony was part of Ritwik’s birthday celebrations and reported social-outreach programmes; the video triggered debate over dignity and social hierarchy.
Critics' View
Ritwik's Response and Context
Dignity and hierarchy
Critics' View
Gargi Chatterjee said the image of a tribal woman cleaning an MLA’s son’s feet suggested social inequality and conflicted with claims of dignity and empowerment for tribal communities.
Ritwik's Response and Context
Ritwik said the act was performed according to the woman’s culture, happened unexpectedly and was not something he wanted to accept.
Political meaning
Critics' View
Chatterjee argued that the incident conveyed the BJP’s alleged attitude toward tribal and Dalit communities and said a later gesture of respect could not undo the mistake.
Ritwik's Response and Context
Ritwik said the incident created a wrong impression about him and the BJP, while an RSS-linked Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram official said such incidents undermine efforts to reduce divisions between tribal communities and other Hindus.
Cultural appropriateness
Critics' View
Rabin Soren said foot-cleaning as a welcome for a distinguished guest is practiced for a person from the community, not for outsiders.
Ritwik's Response and Context
Ritwik said he hesitated to intervene because he did not want to disrespect the woman’s culture, then bowed and touched her feet after the ritual.
- Main figure
- Ritwik Kumar Surolia, 34, son of BJP Jagatdal MLA Rajesh Kumar
- Event
- A birthday ceremony involving foot-washing and a tilak ritual
- Location
- Kaugachi’s Adibasi Para, Shyamnagar, North 24-Parganas
- Ritwik’s response
- He said the act was sudden, unplanned and against his conscience, and that he later touched the woman’s feet.
- Political criticism
- CPM trade union leader Gargi Chatterjee said the incident reflected an attitude toward tribal and Dalit communities.
- Organisational response
- A senior Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram functionary called the episode unfortunate and avoidable.
- Tribal response
- Disham Adivasi Gaonta president Rabin Soren questioned whether the gesture was appropriate for someone outside the community.