Mahatma Gandhi on chest, Narendra Modi in stomach; tattoos including Sophia Qureshi and Vyomika Singh; fisherman John carries India's prides on his body

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: John (45), a native of Mukkola in Vizhinjam, who carries the people who are the pride of the country in his heart, has accepted them into his own body. Among them are Sophia Qureshi and Vyomika Singh, the female army officeres who told the world about India's success story in Operation Sindoor to "Father of the Nation" Mahatma Gandhi.

John, a fisherman, spent one lakh rupees on a tattoo from the savings he earned from fishing. Three years ago, he first tattooed Gandhiji's picture on his left chest. Then he welcomed Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his right hand and Subhash Chandra Bose on his left hand. Impressed by the stories his father, a native of Tamil Nadu, told him, John gave Subrahmanya Bharathi a place on his right chest. Indian Army women Vyomika Singh and Sophia Qureshi, who responded to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor, also took positions as tattoos on John's back. Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is the largest tattoo on his back. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on John's stomach.

Each person will have their name tattooed in English below their picture. When asked about the pictures, John's reply is, 'They are good people'.

Didn't give up even after fainting

There were those who made fun of John and encouraged him. John gets his tattoo done at a tattoo centre in Vizhinjam. He fainted twice. It took him a month to complete the picture of Abdul Kalam due to the pain, but he didn't give up.

“I don't make my body an object of display. I walk around wearing a shirt. There are eleven tattoos in total.” -John