Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell,
was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen
intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an
intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language
and a belief in democratic socialism.
Burma
"In April 1926 he moved to Moulmein, where his grandmother lived. At the end of that year, he went to Katha, in Upper Burma, where he contracted Dengue fever in 1927. He was entitled to a leave in England that year, and in view of his illness, was allowed to go home in July. While on leave in England and on holiday with his family in Cornwall in September 1927, he reappraised his life, decided not to return to Burma, and resigned from the Indian Imperial Police with the intention of becoming a writer. His Burma police experience yielded the novel Burmese Days (1934) and the essays A Hanging (1931) and Shooting an Elephant (1936). In Burma, Orwell had acquired a reputation as someone who didn’t fit in – he spent much of his time alone, reading or pursuing non-pukka activities such as attending the churches of the ethnic Karen group. A colleague, Roger Beadon, recalled (in a 1969 recording for the BBC) that Orwell was adept at learning the language and that before he left Burma, “was able to speak fluently with Burmese priests in ‘very high-flown Burmese.’” Orwell wrote later that he felt guilty for his role in the machine of empire and he “began to look more closely at his own country and saw that England also had its oppressed…” Physical marks left by Burma remained with Orwell throughout his life. “While in Burma, he acquired a moustache similar to those worn by officers of the British regiments stationed there. [He] also acquired some tattoos; It came to light a few years ago that Orwell had acquired tattoos while he was in Burma – he had tiny blue circles tattooed onto the backs of his hands, one on each knuckle. Still common in Burma, these tattoos were believed to provide protection against British bullets, poisonous snakes, or, indeed, any nefarious or ill-intentioned magic that might be conjured up by one’s enemies."
(georgeorwellnovels.com
Tattoos
- "At that time, the tattoo work was not very common. But the tribesmen used to have some activities like that for showing some attachments with the tribes or religion. The rebels of Burma used to engrave some kind of unique tattoos of blue color on their hands. They were of the view that these tattoos have some magical powers and can protect them against the British bullets.
So, it might be because of this belief or something else that George Orwell followed the trend and got some tattoos on his hands. Some people believe that it was because Orwell wanted to show some emotions to the rebels of Burma as he also had a rebellious nature.
It is mentioned on the passport of Mr. Orwell that he had a tattoo of blue color on the back of his hands on his each knuckle. According to him he didn’t quite remember exactly that when, how and by whom he got these fine tattoos engraved on his hands. He only remembered that he was in Burma in those days. Some people, who have seen this unique tattoo, said that it’s like some grapefruits and some said no it’s like nuts on the knuckles." (http://www.fimho.com/george-orwell-tattoos.html)
- "Another
document notes that he had tattoo marks on the backs of his hands - not
evident from published photographs. Adrian Fierz, son of the friend who
helped Orwell find his first publisher, spotted the tattoos and asked
about them. "They were," he recalled, "blue spots the shape of small
grapefruits - one on each knuckle." As this information was on Orwell's
1927 passport it can be presumed he acquired the tattoos in Burma. He
was never a properly "correct" member of the Imperial class - hobnobbing
with Buddhist priests, Rangoon prostitutes and British drop-outs. As
Orwell himself noted, rebellious Burmese tribesmen thought tattoos gave
magic protection from British bullets, and, as he himself grew more
rebellious, perhaps he felt in need of his own protection against
official hostility. The tattoos were probably a sign to members of the
British establishment in Burma that he was not "one of them" - an
attitude he sustained throughout his writing career. That attitude,
highly fruitful for his writing, was also what made him a suspect to the
intelligence authorities." (Gordon Bowker)
- "At that time, the tattoo work was not very common. But the tribesmen used to have some activities like that for showing some attachments with the tribes or religion. The rebels of Burma used to engrave some kind of unique tattoos of blue color on their hands. They were of the view that these tattoos have some magical powers and can protect them against the British bullets.
So, it might be because of this belief or something else that George Orwell followed the trend and got some tattoos on his hands. Some people believe that it was because Orwell wanted to show some emotions to the rebels of Burma as he also had a rebellious nature.
It is mentioned on the passport of Mr. Orwell that he had a tattoo of blue color on the back of his hands on his each knuckle. According to him he didn’t quite remember exactly that when, how and by whom he got these fine tattoos engraved on his hands. He only remembered that he was in Burma in those days. Some people, who have seen this unique tattoo, said that it’s like some grapefruits and some said no it’s like nuts on the knuckles." (http://www.fimho.com/george-orwell-tattoos.html)
