Revealing and concealing: ethical dilemmas of maneuvering identity in the field

‘What is your surname?’ ¹ the son of Parubai, one of my dalit ² respondents, asked me. Clearly he was not pleased with just my first name and wanted to know more, perhaps to place me in the caste hierarchy. ‘Godbole,’ I replied rather nervously, watching his mother from the corner of my eye. ‘So you are a Brahmin!’ ³ he commented, glancing at Parubai. I could see a look of surprise on her face, but she quickly composed herself and said, ‘Oh that does not matter, she is just like us!’ I felt relieved and slightly proud of myself for being able to cross the caste barrier, albeit to a limited extent.