Literacy Practices of The Mumbai Dabbawalas, India: Writing an Ethnographic Case Study

This book explores the Mumbai Dabbawalas, an indigenous group in India, and their literacy practices within their business world. The author aims to demonstrate how she conducted her ethnographic case study as a model for others to follow in their own research. She takes the readers on a narrative journey, chronicling her decision to conduct the study and the completion of her dissertation. Through this journey, she highlights the influence of literacy definitions, particularly the autonomous model, on non-Western and indigenous groups, and how these definitions have impacted their literacy practices.

Using qualitative research methods, the author provides readers with insights into conducting a cross-cultural international ethnographic case study. She offers detailed explanations of her coding process and how she analyzed the extensive data to support her argument that the Dabbawalas' literacy practices contribute to their success. Additionally, Dr. Krishnan's cross-cultural study adds a new dimension to the field of ethnographic case study and challenges the autonomous model of literacy.