ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on my ethnographic research in a remote region of India, on riverine islands (or char, as locally known) in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. These islands are far from the centres of power and perform poorly on developmental indices. Here, I draw upon the difficulties and negotiations I grappled with during fieldwork, particularly the experiences around my menstruation. Throughout my fieldwork, I had to resort to involuntary breaks to cater to my menstrual needs. These breaks made me guilty of missing out on data collection. Upon reflection, the guilt was a derivative of the lack of any academic training around self-care. In the process, I devised various self-care strategies to navigate through my fieldwork. I hereby ask: What kind of subjectivities and negotiations are developed by the ethnographer when faced with traumatic conditions? What does it mean for a female researcher to invest in self-care while on fieldwork?
