The stones with the markings 'Ram' etched on their surface floated on water. Maybe because they carried the lord's grace in each and every atom. The worthless and useless boulders became pious and revered. So wouldn't it be prudent to carve the sacred name on your skin to both carry the blessings forever and as a befitting reply to the vile and despicable caste system that divides the society and feeds off of superficial superiority of some and senseless oppression of others.
The ancestors of Ramnami community were dalits and ,as a consequence, were denied entry into temples. Despite feeling abashed and loathing the tyranny of a handful, the Ramnamis found a unique way to resist the abhorrent rules that prohibited them from offering prayers to their god. So they tattooed the name 'Ram' all over their bodies and hence came to be called 'Ramnamis'. Through this act they also try to propound the age old wisdom that god does not reside in a stone walled room but in the heart of a pure devotee. In the land where Lord Rama ate the tasted berry of Shabri to teach the worlds the lessons of compassion and love, fear and division cannot tread. A century later though, the community is shrinking as the youths do not want their foreheads inked and the teachings and lessons of the ancestors and slowly fading away.
Writer - Mr. Jinendra Parakh
Editing By- Ajit Gupta
Caption by- Anurag Bamne