Emotional Terrain of Ethnography: Navigating Fear, Attachment, and Knowledge in Politically Volatile Spaces

This paper explores the often-overlooked emotional dimensions of ethnographic research conducted in politically volatile spaces, with a focus on Hindu nationalist organizations in Jharkhand, India. Through firsthand reflections on fieldwork, I examine how emotions such as fear, disgust, attachment, and moments of fun become critical to both the research process and the knowledge generated. In politically charged environments, these emotions shape interactions with individuals and groups, influencing trust-building, access to information, and an understanding of the underlying political dynamics. Rather than viewing emotions as disruptions, this paper argues that they are integral components of the ethnographic process, particularly in contentious spaces. Fear, emotional attachment, and even disgust influence methodological choices and profoundly shape relationships formed during fieldwork. These emotional entanglements challenge the conventional notion of researcher objectivity, highlighting how emotions are deeply intertwined with power dynamics in politically sensitive environments. Recognizing emotions as intrinsic to fieldwork offers deeper insights into how ethnographic knowledge is produced, especially when studying organizations that evoke strong ideological and emotional responses. This paper emphasizes the need to critically engage with the emotional complexities that arise during fieldwork, as they significantly shape the insights and conclusions drawn from politically volatile spaces.