‘Ram liberated me and made me equal’
My parents named me Mehattar, but since Ram is associated with my name, I am welcome everywhere, in every household, every community. I am called for bhajans and people don’t distinguish in matters of food when I am around. This equality has a special significance for me since I come from the Satnami community listed as Scheduled Caste. Ram helped me break barriers, gave me freedom. As a young boy, I had gone to Ayodhya and was thinking of all the things I could take back with me. I got myself a tattoo on the forehead with ink mixed with the waters of the Sarayu river. I got back home and joined the Ramnami movement, as my father and grandfather had before me.
We would travel from village to village in groups and sing bhajans. One day, one of us would decide to get inked. The tattoo artist would spend eight hours a day on each person and a full body tattoo would take 18 days. The tattooing was done with bhajan singing in the background, something that took the mind off the pain. Swelling on the entire body was a given and was treated with andi ka tel (castor oil). I was 20 years old and an active member of the Ramnami Samaj when I decided to get myself a full body tattoo, shed my old skin and get a new one. I was in the throes of devotion, experiencing a oneness with the creator when the tattoo maker was working on me. Ram made me feel liberated and equal. There is no difference between water and the waves and similarly there isn’t any difference between men of different castes or creed or men and other living beings. Ram made me realise that. Ram also helped get me fame all over the world. You have come all the way to meet me, only because I’m known. There are only five people surviving in the sect that are tattooed head to toe and, one day, very soon, there will be none.
We don’t worship idols. We worship the word Ram. Idols have only led to differences. A lot has been done in the name of Ram. I was in Ayodhya when the mosque was pulled down. It should not have been done. We cannot destroy someone else’s place of worship. Youngsters don’t want to get tattooed now for their own reasons. My son says he will not get a government job if he has a tattoo on his body. He plays the harmonium, the flute and many other instruments at social functions in villages. He is very talented but he will not do what I did. It’s important to have a job too. (As told to Rahul Noronha)
“WE DON’T WORSHIP IDOLS. WE WORSHIP THE WORD, RAM. IDOLS HAVE ONLY LED TO DIFFERENCES”