An Acid Attack Survivor as a Tattoo Artist? Hells Yeah!

‘This could be a message to society.’

Body Canvas founder Vikas Malani with Stop Acid Attacks campaigner, Lakshmi Agarwal. (Photo: The Quint)

For acid attack survivors, the stigma around their scars tend to limit career options. But that doesn’t stop them from owning their dreams. After successfully managing a café run by survivors, campaigners at Stop Acid Attacks are now looking at tattoo artistry as another career path.

Speaking to The Quint, Parth Sarthi Resource Development Manager at Chhanv Foundation says that tattoo artistry as an alternative career option is fascinating.

“We believe that if a girl can make henna designs, she can learn the art of creating tattoos,” he says.

A Message to Society

At a workshop organised by Vikas Malani, founder of Body Canvas, The Quint spoke to a few women who attended. Here’s what they had to say.

Lakshmi Agarwal. (Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

Some survivors undergo painful transplant surgeries to reconstruct their faces. But with tattoos, we can experiment. Survivors who wish to can get their eyebrows tattooed, which I think will be less painful than those surgeries.

Lakshmi Agarwal, <i>Stop Acid Attacks</i>

Soniya Chaudhary. (Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

I’m a beautician by profession. Tattoos are trendy these days, everybody wants one. People are also into permanent make-up – where they get their eyebrows thickened, or lips lined. I would love to know how to make tattoos, since this will add to my career.

Soniya Chaudhary, <i>Stop Acid Attacks</i>

Also read: Acid - The Story Of A Beautiful Woman

Ritu Saini. (Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

I have seen that 80% people want tattoos these days. If an acid attack survivor makes a tattoo on someone, it will be a great message to society. That even a survivor can pick up art.

Ritu Saini, <i>Stop Acid Attacks</i>

With the belief that a career in tattoo artistry will allow for more one-on-one communication between survivors and the public, these women are keen to learn the tricks of the trade. Vikas Malani offered to give free training classes to survivors who would be interested in the profession.

Many of the survivors don’t know how to read or write. Tattooing provides them with a useful and marketable skill.

(From L-R) Madhu, Rupa, Lakshmi, Ritu and Soniya.(Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

Rupa gets a tattoo made by Vikas Malani, founder of Body Canvas tattoo parlour.(Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

Lakshmi Agarwal tries her hand on a synthetic arm.(Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)

Rupa shows off her first ever tattoo- her mom’s name.(Photo: Abhipsha Mahapatro/The Quint)