Dr. Ruchika Rai

Dr. Ruchika Rai is a cultural anthropologist and performance studies scholar whose research explores the intersections of ritual language, identity, and cultural economies in the Central Himalayan region. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her doctoral dissertation—“Language, Ritual Performance, and Identity: A Study of Jagar and Kumaoni Ramlila of Uttarakhand”—offers a pioneering analysis of how ritual performance and orality shape social identity, cultural memory, and economic aspiration among Himalayan communities.

Her work stands out in the field of cultural anthropology for foregrounding the role of language and symbolism in Kumaoni Ramlila as active mediums of identity-making, rather than mere conduits of tradition. In her doctoral research, Dr. Rai identified a previously unexplored connection between Jagar and Ramlila traditions, revealing how these ritual performances are deeply intertwined with the region’s ongoing economic transformation. This insight has directly informed her current trajectory, leading to the INTACH-funded Economic Ecosystems of Cultural Heritage project (2025). Through in-depth ethnographic fieldwork and embodied participation, Dr. Rai uncovers the ecological wisdom and cultural resilience embedded in these performances, situating them within broader conversations on sustainability, community well-being, and heritage policy.

Dr. Rai’s scholarly practice is deeply informed by her background in theatre and investigative journalism—experiences that enrich both her ethnographic sensibility and her methodological approach, particularly in participant observation and performance-based research.

As a recognized voice in the study of Himalayan cultural systems, Dr. Ruchika Rai currently heads the Cultural Research Initiative at the Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL), where she brings together her interdisciplinary expertise to foster research, dialogue, and policy engagement on the region’s intangible heritage.