The Permanence of Identity: What Godna Teaches Us About Design
By Rishika Miranda
We’ve always used ornamentation to express identity—through jewellery, textiles, or markings in our spaces. These are things we can wear, place, and easily remove.
Godna comes from a very different place.
The Body as a Site of Ornamentation
Among communities like the Dusadh/Paswan in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, caste historically dictated who could wear what. Jewellery signalled status and visibility; for many, it was strictly restricted.
Over time, tattooing evolved as an alternative. The body itself became the site of ornamentation.
These motifs carried protection, identity, and memory—but more importantly, they couldn’t be taken away. Jewellery could be removed. This couldn’t.
The Psychology of Permanence
That idea of permanence shifts something fundamental. Permanence isn’t just visual; it’s deeply psychological. It creates:
- A sense of true control.
- Certainty.
- The definitive knowledge that something is yours, regardless of context or permission.
Anchoring Our Spaces
As designers, we constantly try to build that exact feeling of stability in the spaces we inhabit. We attempt it through:
- Repetition of familiar forms
- Symbolic elements 3. Meaningful motifs
These are the things meant to anchor you, reduce uncertainty, and make a space feel stable and uniquely yours.
Rethinking the Motif
But in architecture and interiors, those physical anchors can move. They can be changed, removed, or replaced.
Godna can’t.
And that completely changes how you look at a motif. It is no longer just something you place onto a surface. It is something that holds identity in place.