Mumbai’s Goths are not easy to spot — they prefer to lie low and not flaunt their beliefs

Black nail polish, black clothing, long hair, tattoos and loads of silver jewellery — this is the dress code for Goths across the world. Mumbai is no different, even if the Goth sub-culture here is on a far smaller scale than it is in the West.

Black nail polish, black clothing, long hair, tattoos and loads of silver jewellery — this is the dress code for Goths across the world. Mumbai is no different, even if the Goth sub-culture here is on a far smaller scale than it is in the West.

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This subculture is so widespread in the United States and countries across Europe that there are Goth pubs, Goth villages and stores exclusively for Goths.

Unknown to most, there are quite a few several Goths in our own metropolis too — but they don’t necessarily advertise their beliefs. Those we spoke to refused to be photographed; most we approached were unwilling even to talk about their beliefs.

Only a couple of them spoke to us, offering a peek into their largely hidden subculture.

“There are many people who are Goths and have regular jobs too. They may not dress up like typical Goths the whole day but they do believe in the basic philosophy of being Goth,” explains Olly Alva, a tattoo artist and former Goth.

Alva, who went the whole hog — with black nail paint and black clothing — explains that for several people being a Goth is a way of expressing their angst. “There were so many things in our world that I felt strongly about. But I didn’t know how to express my anger. My becoming a Goth was an expression of that anger,” says the rebel with a pause, who says he is now over that phase but still holds on to his strong beliefs.

On the other hand, Karan Sahani (name changed on request) turned Goth eight years ago and says he still loves every minute of it. “I was always a bit of a rebel and didn’t want to go down the conventional route of academics, getting a nine-to-five job and ‘settling down’. Becoming a Goth seemed a natural extension of that feeling,” explains the 25-year-old Khar resident, who sports his tattoos, long hair and body piercings with a stylish
nonchalance.

The fact that Goth culture is usually associated with a morbid mood, body piercing and bondage items, does not bother him particularly. “My friends and family are comfortable with me and that’s all that matters,” he says. And then asks, a little defiantly, “I’m a regular person, who expresses himself differently. What’s wrong with that?”
However, Sahani prefers to stay on the safe side and reasons that it would be prudent to withhold his name. “I’m not trying to strut around saying, ‘Look at me, I’m a Goth! It’s very personal and I’d like to keep it that way,”
he argues.

New way of life
The Goth ideology, a construct that is derived from the dark recesses of the Gothic style of nineteenth-century English literature, is a culmination of its believers’ frustration with societal norms, rules and regulations, personal setbacks and a general disillusionment with mainstream culture.

Goth music often deals with thought-provoking topics, concentrating on societal evils, like racism, war and hatred of ethnic groups. And Goths are also known for their love of German Expressionist silent films and the works of Dante, Byron and Tolstoy.

Goths are, in general, non-violent, pacifist and tolerant. If there’s any violence they inflict, it’s mostly on themselves in the form of huge tattoos, body piercings and sometimes, body modification. “Goths don’t mind bearing pain, so many of them even undergo the process of scarfication — where thin tissue of the body is removed, leaving behind scars. It’s another form of tattooing,” says Vikas Malani, a tattoo artist and tattoo shop owner.

With practices such as these, it’s not surprising that they keep a low profile — even in Mumbai, the most tolerant of Indian cities.

This weekly column examines the diversity of urban communities.