In a significant academic achievement, Dr. Ruchika Ranwa, a faculty member at Manipal Dubai, has published her research paper titled “The Politics of Gatekeeping: Respondents as Gatekeepers and Gatekeepers as Respondents” in the prestigious Qualitative Research journal. Recognized as a Scopus-indexed Q1 journal, Qualitative Research is renowned for disseminating high-impact scholarship in the field of qualitative methodologies.

Dr. Ranwa’s paper delves into an intriguing yet underexplored facet of ethnographic fieldwork. Her research investigates the complex interplay of roles between gatekeepers and respondents within the Kalbeliya community of Rajasthan, India. The Kalbeliyas are widely known for their traditional dance, designated as UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. However, Dr. Ranwa's study shifts focus to the methodological and power dynamics involved in accessing this community during fieldwork.

The research underscores the blurred boundaries and shifting positionalities where gatekeepers—individuals controlling access to the field—double as respondents, and vice versa. This dynamic, as observed through interactions with Kalbeliya women dancers, state officials, and Kalbeliya men, reveals how gendered power relations shape the negotiation of access and data collection processes. The study provides fresh insights into the multi-layered complexities of conducting qualitative research in similar socio-cultural contexts.

Dr. Ranwa's work not only broadens the understanding of ethnographic methodologies but also adds to the discourse on how hierarchical structures within field sites influence research outcomes.

The publication in Qualitative Research highlights the research prowess at Manipal Dubai, reinforcing its commitment to advancing critical scholarship. Faculty members at Manipal Dubai continue to contribute to global academia, addressing diverse and timely issues through robust research endeavors.

For more details, the full paper is available at https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/S93S38DAX7YYDRSZRWR4/full