BEYOND THE INK

Unravelling the untold stories of empowerment, expression, and artistry etched beneath the skin.

- PRIYANKA KATHURIA

With a chequered past, India’s body art history holds diverse narratives, found in historical texts and indigenous communities. The term ‘tattoo’ stems from the Hindi word tatau or tatu, once powerful symbols of identity, spirituality, and status. The 20th century brought changes, associating tattoos with taboos. Recently, body art is again being embraced as self-expression. Icons like Rihanna and Angelina Jolie too, use their bodies to tell stories, etching moments and beliefs. Against this backdrop of resurgence, Bazaar India spotlights three indomitable women with inked tales, each a veritable artist sharing their journey through tattoos and piercings.

ISHA SINGH SAWHNEY

“For me, it all started with a simple star tattoo on my stomach, funded by my supportive father, when I was just a teenager. Little did I know that this seemingly spontaneous act would shape my journey and become an integral part of my existence,” says the 39-year-old writer “As the years passed, my appreciation for body art grew, transforming it into a thoughtful process of selfexpression and exploration. Like an avid collector of art, I began to envision my body as a living gallery, adorned with tattoos that held both aesthetic and symbolic significance. Each mark became a conduit through which I could reclaim my body and find solace in moments of pain and pleasure converging. For instance, the bond I share with my sister finds its eternal mark in the tattoos we both bear, our birthdays forever intertwined in ink.