Inked!!!

A Trend or a Belief?

An Om, a Dragon, a Winged Angel, a Skull, Zodiac Signs etc…Wonder what’s common amongst them? They are all seen in the form of Tattoos. Tattoo Art- at its inception it was the trend amongst the cream of the crop People as a symbol of their status and as a value of their culture. It was then known as ‘a badge of honor’, which, today has been replaced with being a fashion statement. Another interesting fact to note is that in olden days, tattoos were used as a form of punishment and a medium to discriminate slaves from their authoritative rulers. The question is however the same- is tattooing just a trend, a fashion statement or is it something that one believes in?

Going back to history, we could say that there was a noticeable shift in the perception of being inked- from Bikers, Gangbangers and Music Junkies to the common youth of today. Nowadays, the type of people getting inked has branched out, certainly not restricted to groups. Every custom, when observed intricately has a reason for its existence which is not necessarily negative although it is sometimes judged as absurd and irrational. For most people who getting inked is a belief, a symbolic representation of a deep connection to a person, a thing or anything else that is very important in their life.

Funnily, at one point tattoos were considered as taboo and a subject that was unmentionable and secretive. They were a sign that denoted something immoral or unclean, where the people who used to get them done were the ones associated with Black magic or Witch craft. This belief has completely changed over the time and has carved a whole new identity for itself. Now anybody and everybody gets tattooed, not just the ones associated with dark elevation of life.

Donna Munshi, a Photographer by profession says, “I got three tattoos inked on myself for they mean and represent something that I have deep connection with and will cherish forever.” Rachna Chabria, a Knowledge analyst at Deloitte- “For me getting a tattoo done on my nape was a very emotional and conscious choice that I made, as it symbolizes my grandfather and the tattoo is now my identity as well as a memory of him, reminding me he is always watching my back.” Says Karan Jain, an Assistant Manager for a Software firm “I got inked as it means a lot to me and I wanted it on my body as it is a complete opposite of what I had in life.” However, keeping in sync with the trend of tattooing, Kunal Vazir, an MD of a popular Retail brand says “I got a tattoo done for the reason that I liked the design and it made feel good about myself”.

Some believe that tattoos are a permanent and a beautiful ancient art which looks good only if adorned on our body for the right reasons. When seen as a belief, it is argued that getting a tattoo done for the concept of being ‘cool’ is the last reason one should get inked. But others say it is rapidly spreading as a trend, primarily due to peer pressure and the fact that getting a tattoo will set them a class apart from others. The debate continues; tattooing still remains a belief and a trend, running on two parallel lines.

There are tons of different explanations as to how societies now perceive tattoos due to its wide exposure. However, the one point that cannot be negated is that the increased popularity of tattoos points at society’s acceptance of tattooing as a Social norm.

Bosco a tattoo artist speaks “We get a lot of costumers to get inked and when asked, most say that they have a deep connection with the design, while others who get inked, do so because it is being followed by a lot of people around them. Our job is to just prepare them as it a tough procedure and a permanent thing.” Nonetheless, the fact still remains; the art of tattooing, either a belief or a trend, in the end is purely a matter of one’s choice…