Gonzo Journalism

Why Gonzo?

Gonzo Journalism isn’t about sitting on the sidelines; it’s about jumping into the fray. It’s living the story firsthand, not just reporting it. Gonzo journalists throw themselves into the narrative, becoming a part of the action to capture the full experience. It’s journalism with a pulse, where the writer’s presence is as much a part of the story as the story itself.

To me, it’s about getting your hands dirty and your feet wet. I chose Gonzo because it’s real — it doesn’t just scratch the surface, it dives in. It’s about being there, in the thick of it. And, importantly, my choice to go Gonzo is a dry laugh at the limitations of conventional ethnography.

In Rashol, Gonzo meant joining the rhythm of life, not just observing it. It was about forming connections that went deeper than an encounter. This approach wasn’t planned; it happened because it was the only way for me to truly capture the spirit of the place and its people. Gonzo lets me explore without boundaries, to understand not just the ‘what’ but the ‘why.’ Yet also, going Gonzo keeps me within the limited authority of my own experience - which I call as embracing the inherent subjectivity. It’s about living and sharing the raw, the essence, and it’s what makes the stories resonate with authenticity albeit subjective.

That’s the Gonzo difference—it’s personal, it’s profound, and it’s powerful.

Documenting: I made the conscious choice to document Rashol using only a phone camera, and many times -- no camera at all. This approach allowed me to blend into the village, capturing life as it unfolded, authentically and without pretense. The phone camera, an everyday object, didn’t intimidate or intrude, enabling me to preserve moments with emotional integrity. It was a tool that facilitated trust, allowing me to witness and record the village’s stories and traditions intimately. This project is a reflection of that choice—a narrative woven from genuine connections and a deep respect for the ordinary, revealing extraordinary insights into Himalayan life.