12/09/2026
New York tattoo artist Jema Ferrer Julka, who is currently visiting Jaipur, has sparked a wave of reactions online with her views on India’s history and colonial past. She said India is often portrayed in the West through images of poverty and overcrowding, despite the global popularity of Indian traditions such as yoga, Ayurveda, meditation and textiles. Jema also spoke about India’s historic cotton, muslin and silk industries, arguing that British colonial policies damaged traditional industries and devastated the livelihoods of many weavers and artisans. She further praised India’s non violent freedom movement and said her experience of visiting the country has changed the way she sees its history and culture.