Tales of the tattoo
MENTION the word tattoo or Tattoo Aftercare and you are bound to get mixed responses.
To a father of a teenager, it would bring to mind an image of a rock junkie, his arms tattooed and eyebrows pierced. To that same teenager, a tattoo could spell a “cool” statement and to many others, it’s one of the fastest ways of catching an infection! Ironically, this now modern subject (still looked down upon by Indians) has a rich tribal history of its own. A past so peculiar that even scientists are intrigued. “For people like us it’s an important lesson in history,” mentions Prof Shalina Mehta, head of the department of anthropology, Panjab University as she guides us to a travelling exhibition titled “Godana” (the practice of tattooing) that’s been organized by the Indira Gandhi National Museum of Mankind, Bhopal at the department.
“The practice of getting one’s body tattooed has been prevalent in almost all human societies. In fact it’s been in existence for about the last five thousand years. And we call it a modern art of expression. That’s not so,” smiles the professor as we check out the collection of photographs on display. Interestingly, there are many tribes in India which still practice the art of tattooing and it’s mostly women who opt for the same. “For many it’s of ornamental value while for other tribes they are also markers of identification and social classification,” informs the curator of the show and representative from the Indira Gandhi Museum.
Most predominant among the tribes and also showcased pictorially are the tribes such as Bhil, Gonds, Baiga, Korku, Muria, Toda…etc all hailing from different parts of the country, be it Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan to the north eastern states. The symbols tattooed range from abstract designs to flowers, dots to lines… in fact just like today they make a statement. “But unlike today where one has the facility of using a local anaesthesia, these tribes had rough, thick needles and indigo ink to work with.
But we have never heard of them getting tetanus or any other ailment because of tattooing. In fact, they even use medicinal herbs to soothe the skin,” tells Prof Mehta. But as the tribes diminish, taking to urban lives, the art of tattooing is also dying. “These are small communities and are either losing their traditions or moving on. Which is why preserving this ancient art is of importance,” feels the professor.
And that’s where steps are being taken by institutions such as the Indira Gandhi Museum of Mankind Bhopal. “We regularly organize camps where we encourage the tribes to replicate their tattoos on paper. These drawings are then used as paintings and cards. It’s an important step in keeping the art going,” adds the curator. The tattoos indeed do their own talking and to dismiss it as frivolous would be unfair it seems.
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