From the Editor-in-Chief 11 5

Abstract

Research is not only exploration of the unknown but it is also observation of the known 
through a different lens and to critique what is widely perceived and accepted.  
Taking forward the exploration of the theme, Research, Development and Social 
transformation, that was initiated in the previous issue of Vantage: Journal of Thematic 
Analysis, Dr. Rukshana Zaman, in the editorial of the current issue, outlines the various 
parameters that makes for a good research question and offers insights on ways and 
means to bridge the gap between research, development and ultimately social 
transformation. Transformation often leads to conflicts. The invited article by Prof. 
Madan reflects on the inevitability, importance as well as implication of conflicts in the 
society and how young people can be educated to engage in conflicts and to build 
concords in a better way. He discusses various worldwide theories about the causes of 
conflicts as well as strategies for dealing with conflicts. Hera Saud, in her original 
research article, reflects on the issue of housing in modern society. She asserts that 
housing today has become both a site of hope and despair and it is here that “inclusive 
cumulative social transformations initiated by capitalist industrial development” 
become visible. Aadita Chauhan and her group scrutinise how truth is constructed in 
documentary films. Their  paper, focuses on the construction of such versions of the 
truth by analysing the documentary-series Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy 
Tapes available on the OTT platform of Netflix. The article by Reema “Gender and 
Humour in Indian Folk Tales- The Pañcatantra” looks at laughter as a serious business. 
In her article she argues that laughter, depending on who laughs and at whom, can be 
disciplining, repressive, subversive, rebellious and self-mocking.