The article attempts to analyze the changing role of leadership of a group called Athpahariya Rais of Dhankuta district in eastern Nepal. The discussion is centered on the powers assigned to the leader which allow him to control others in the group. It also attempts to show that though the structure of the larger national political system has changed over time, the traditional form of leadership and authority has remained safely intact and the "new" leaders are the same people who held power in the former traditional systems. The article concludes that the Athpahariya Rais provide a clear example of the role of leadership gradually passing over to the same group of people even in a changing political situation. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-02-09)