Comments on: Fountain Pens – what ails the Indian industry?

By: Sukla Roy

Sukla Roy — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 17:42:28 +0000

Fountain pen lovers, enthusiasts and collectors of India needed this reality check. A round of applause for this amazing piece.
Judging from the time we are living in where education boards and conductors of competitive examinations have banned the use of fountain pens, there is a lot of work for us, pen lovers, to do than merely collecting overpriced fountain pens. Mere collection would not make fountain pens popular among young generations and until and unless we can involve the gen next, this art will become extinct. For this, the manufacturers as well as the existing collectors and pen lovers would have to work together to popularise not only fountain pens but also the art of writing itself, which has diminished in the digital age.
And talking about lack of originality of Indian pen manufacturers, I must point out that it’s expected. Just as Indian film industry and music industry has lost originality and only remaking old things, something very similar is happening for our Indian pen industry as well. We need originality and individuality. Indigenous products will definitely get more appreciation not only from our fellow countrymen but in global market as well. Reviving the fountain pen industry will also generate employment and will become a source of income. But we have to bring innovation on our own and will have to stop copying from others.

By: Shubhranshu

Shubhranshu — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 17:12:35 +0000

Lovely statement of facts and experience with respect to locally made fountain pens. Regarding your point about Ebonite pens and that replicate the Duofold, Cigar or the Churchill I would be thrilled to bits if even if they didn’t change a single thing and do what they do as long as they can ensure fit and finish of these pens such that the cpen deserves its price. Clips are wonky, gaps between the finial and cap or barrel, threading that is so poorly finished that it takes a tremendous amount of muscle to open the pen, unturned pens, cheap feeds that ensure poor ink flow … These should not be mentioned as issues but I have to … Let’s hope that some hints are taken and there’s a movement to deliver a better quality of standard design fountain pens ..

By: Mohan Santhanam

Mohan Santhanam — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:25:03 +0000

The day Indian schools stopped making fountain pens compulsory for students – that was the end of that market segment. Regarding adults, the less said the better. How many of us are willing to put the pen to paper and send a letter to a family member/colleague/classmate/relative/friend or even a short hand-written note? I’m a bit of an exception for I still sometimes (valiantly) write letters. I know I may not get a response in kind but the satisfaction of making the recipient experience the joy of receiving a letter through the post is good enough for me. I know we are now a very fast society with very little time for ourselves and everyone else, but in my opinion, if the art of letter-writing can be revived, automatically the demand for fountain pens will increase and manufacturers will also not be so lackadaisical in their responses to customers’ questions and orders. To summarize:

1. Make fountain pens in school compulsory
2. Force children to write letters to their classmates – and use postal stamps and NOT courier
2. Write letters, everyone!

By: Amitava Mukherjee

Amitava Mukherjee — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 10:47:53 +0000

Really a must to discuss topic which no one talks about. I teach some students,some want to use fountain pens but when they scroll the market they are very disappointed to tell me that either they didnt found them or they are expensive. Some schools also barred their students using fountain pens which is also strange. I search many stores for pen ink which they reply that they are not available any more. Online stores offers variant products but either they are expensive or not good enough to buy. Indian pen manufacturers must feel that not everyone can buy premium products. There is a market out their where people want to use good affordable products,and i assure you they will be loyal to your product whole life.

By: Deepak Nankani

Deepak Nankani — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:27:35 +0000

Sir,

An amazing article that hits very close to home. I was actually talking to a friend of mine day before yesterday, that I wanted to set up a lathe and mix my own acrylic blanks, and get into the turning hobby. Maybe perfect something new so I could eventually get into manufacturing that. Looking at your article, I think your thoughts echo very close to why I want to create my own, maybe because the manufacturing industry has really gone away from India.

Looking back in time, so many large scale manufacturer’s and old school pen companies used to do manufacturing in India, but talking about today, I’m not sure anyone does that, or openly admits to it at least. Would you have an opinion on this? why does no one actually look to India any more for manufacturing, for innovation in materials, not just the bodies, but also the nibs? Is it such widely accepted that Gold and Steel are the standards to nib production, that nothing innovative can be done with nib making any more?

My educational training as a Geneticist makes me question this, but being a small scale entrepreneur, I’m not sure if I have the funds to actually dive head on into the experimentation process to alter this thought. Looking at the Titanium nibs we saw at TIPS in Mumbai, and Palladium nibs from Visconti, I am very sure, there is an array of experimentation to be done, with nib material as well as tipping material, that could project India back to the mainstage of fountain pen manufacture in the future, if only someone was willing to put in the time, effort and funds into this exquisite art…

Warm Regards

Deepak
https://www.penopedia.com

By: Bhushan Jyoti

Bhushan Jyoti — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:00:14 +0000

This article is long coming.. You just put up something which is a problem or i call it a menace? all over the country. FB is swarming with such kind of posts which is nowhere to promote writing but to sell something i doubt is as good as antique or refurbished even. Thank Sir for putting this here with guts.

By: K Singh

K Singh — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 08:50:40 +0000

First of all, I applaud your courage on writing such a honest article.
Though I have very limited experience in buying Indian-made pens, I can fully connect with your own experience.

If you look into any public pen forums or such, you will mostly see praises regarding all these Indian pen-makers, and there they too seem to address your queries where everyone else can see how “great” and quick service they provide. But it’s only when you try to connect with them personally, through email or phone, that you find that these pen-makers aren’t even interested in replying to your queries. And this situation becomes worse, even after you have bought an expensive pen from them and still your emails continue to be unanswered and you are stuck with a dud of a pen.

Also agree with you regarding pricing of Indian pens. I understand that it takes lot of work and years of experience to craft out a beautiful pen, but I wish these pen-makers would at least provide some affordable options for the students of this country. How can you expect to bring a revolution in fountain pen usage when you are only targeting the elite and the premium market of India. It’s the students who need to be your first target so that you can make them fall in love with the use of fountain pens right when they are still young. And that’s only possible if these pen-makers are able to give a good writing instrument at reasonable rates. Of course, they can have their premium section too for those looking for looks and design, but at least every pen-maker should seriously consider having something in their offering that’s aimed at the students of this country, who may not be able to afford expensive pens.

Just my two cents. By the way, been following your blog for a few months now and appreciate the time that you take to keep us up-to-date on various pen related news. Thanks.

By: Prof.K.C.Janardhan

Prof.K.C.Janardhan — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 04:16:18 +0000

Awesome…WHAT AN ARTICLE! Someone had to tell the hard truth! Need of the hour!
It is a SUPERB CLARION CALL to the Indian pen Industry which has been…
“Missing the Wood for the Trees”.
You have stated the ground reality with such lucidity, every word is worth its weight in gold.
Any person with common sense for reviving good handwriting, lettering or calligraphy will understand the need of good quality affordable pens for school children, novices, amateurs and the professionals. Unless people write more with a fountain pen, it is useless! The purpose will be defeated!
The actual need versus most of the opulent boasters of collections, are like owners of Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Mercedes, BMWs, Audis, Jaguars or Aston Martin Lagondas and so on have been putting their possessions to shame, who do not even know how to drive properly. (Maybe someone else will drive it and enjoy it!)
The gap is becoming like Grand Canyon. It is high time that the realisation dawned on these Indian Pen Manufactures….at least now which is better late than never!…. or else they can not save themselves from the agony of shooting themselves in their feet very soon!