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Paper short abstract:

This paper examines visual ethnography as a participatory methodology for engaging marginalized communities in Kashmir. Incorporating photography, film, and participatory video challenges dominant narratives, amplifies subaltern voices, and promotes inclusive representation.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines the transformative potential of visual ethnography as a participatory method for engaging marginalized communities in Indian Administered Kashmir. In a region where socio-political complexities intersect with structural exclusion, visual ethnography offers an alternative to conventional textual approaches by incorporating media such as photography, film, and participatory video. This methodology enables nuanced understandings of resilience, identity, and socio-economic challenges while challenging dominant narratives that are often securitized or politicized.

Focusing on underrepresented groups such as nomadic herders, fishing communities, caste minorities, and linguistic groups, the study demonstrates how visual storytelling facilitates participatory action. Collaborative initiatives, including mapping projects and photo essays, have been employed to document multidimensional vulnerabilities, particularly among women and youth, while foregrounding their agency in navigating structural constraints.

The participatory ethos of visual ethnography transforms research subjects into co-creators of their narratives, fostering ownership and disrupting traditional hierarchies in ethnographic research. This approach not only empowers marginalized communities but also redefines the politics of representation, offering an inclusive and transformative framework for understanding marginalization and resilience in Kashmir.

Through fieldwork and case studies, this paper highlights the capacity of visual ethnography to amplify subaltern voices, promote inclusivity, and provide critical insights into the lived realities of marginalized populations, underscoring its value in contemporary ethnographic and development practices.