In the bustling streets of Srinagar, the world of tattoos has taken a curious turn. Mubashir Beig, a tattoo artist, and Basit Bashir, a tattoo removal specialist, represent two sides of the same coin. While Beig inks designs for a living, Bashir erases them, and both have become central figures in a rapidly changing trend among Jammu and Kashmir’s youth. Between them, their clientele totals over 300,000.
The contrast between the two professionals is stark: young Kashmiris flock to Mubashir’s studio in Bemina to get inked, while almost an equal number visit Basit’s acupressure clinic in Karan Nagar to erase their tattoos. This phenomenon has added a new dimension to the psychology of body art, which has traditionally been seen as a form of self-expression, rebellion, or even catharsis. For many, tattoos have symbolized identity, transformation, and sometimes, a reflection of troubled times.
Tattoo Removal Trend
So, why are so many young Kashmiris choosing to remove tattoos that were once meaningful to them? According to Basit Bashir, the most common tattoo that people want removed is the image of an AK-47. “Of all the tattoos my clients want erased, the AK-47 is by far the most common. Estranged lovers’ names come second,” Basit told The Times of India (TOI).
The tattoo removal trend began around four years ago, prompting Basit to make a career change. He invested in laser equipment and training, quickly becoming Srinagar’s go-to professional for those seeking to undo their body art. Since then, he’s treated nearly 100,000 clients, many of whom are young men and women.
“I ask them why they want their tattoos removed, and the answer is usually that they got inked for fun but no longer identify with the design,” Basit explained.
Regret and Reflection
One of Basit’s clients, a third-year BCom student, came in to remove a tattoo of a skull biting a flower on his forearm. He admitted to having gotten the tattoo in Class IX due to peer pressure. “My parents disapproved of it, and some of the same friends who encouraged me to get it now tell me it looks irreligious,” he said. Another client, a 24-year-old man, had an axe tattooed on his left arm. “I did it for fun, but my parents were shocked,” he recalled. “They considered it against religion.”
A Srinagar-based psychiatrist, who treats recovering addicts, observed that many of his patients sported tattoos featuring symbols like AK-47s, scorpions, and lions. These tattoos, he noted, likely reflect the violent and turbulent history of Kashmir, where conflict and militarization have long been part of the landscape. The face of slain Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala is also a popular tattoo among youths in the region.
Basit believes that some people simply outgrow their tattoos, while others regret their decision shortly after getting inked. The most common reason for wanting tattoos removed is a shift in their outlook on culture, religion, and personal identity.
Body Art Still Thriving
Despite the growing demand for tattoo removal, body art is still thriving in Srinagar. Mubashir’s studio is regularly filled with clients, mostly aged 22-40, waiting hours for their turn to get inked. Popular motifs include abstract designs and religious symbols, such as “Allah” and the number “786,” which is the numerical equivalent of an Islamic invocation.
Mubashir began tattooing as a hobby, practicing on friends and family. As his popularity grew, he trained in Mumbai and opened his own studio in Srinagar. With over 50,000 followers on Instagram, Mubashir has made a name for himself, even posting videos of clients getting tattoos, including one of a youth getting inked with a portrait of Sidhu Moose Wala holding an AK-47, captioned “Legends never die.”
Though Mubashir is passionate about his craft, he follows a strict rule: he refuses to tattoo anyone under the age of 19. He also discourages those who request tattoos of guns, particularly young people interested in joining the police or other security agencies. “I know they might face problems later on,” he said.
What motivates Mubashir is the challenge of creating tattoos that reflect his clients’ personal stories. “There’s so much trauma in Kashmir,” he said. “If a client has a personal experience, I design a tattoo around that story.”
A Changing Landscape
As the tattoo culture in Srinagar evolves, it reflects broader shifts in the region’s youth culture and identity. For some, tattoos have been a temporary phase of rebellion or self-expression. For others, they are permanent reminders of a past they now wish to leave behind.
The rising demand for tattoo removal, particularly the symbolic AK-47 motif, signals a desire to break free from the violence and conflict that has shaped the region’s history. At the same time, Mubashir’s thriving business demonstrates that, for many, tattoos remain a powerful tool for personal expression, a way to mark identity, and perhaps even a form of healing.
In a place where trauma, conflict, and cultural identity intertwine, the choices around body art are never simple — they are a reflection of the complex journey of self-discovery.
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