If you love fountain pens, then we’ve curated a list of cool things to do at the third edition of the India Pen Show
Shabana Azmi, Bhawana Somaaya and Tanvi Azmi unveiling the Kaifi Azmi Limited Edition Fountain Pen at the show’s first edition in 2019
At a time when there is a lot of buzz around AI replacing writers, Vishal Singhi, vice president of the Treasury BMU, Kotak Mahindra Bank, is working to preserve the joy and art of writing. Singhi has been collecting rare fountain pens since his school days, and today is a proud owner of over 2,000 such pens. Inspired by exhibitions of pens across the world, he along with wife Nisha, organised the first India Pen Show in 2019, honouring another fountain pen lover, the legendary poet Kaifi Azmi on his 100th birth anniversary. The show saw personalities such as Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bhawana Somaaya, and Shyam Benegal as the team unveiled the Kaifi Azmi Limited Edition Fountain Pen.
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Vishal Singhi at the first edition of India Pen Show
In its third edition that is all set to take place at the Nehru Centre, the show promises a vast range of workshops such as doodling, journalling, nib tuning, and calligraphy for new users of fountain pens. With the theme, Write for Good, the platform intends to educate the youth on the benefits of using fountain pens as they are sustainable and can last for decades, as opposed to ball and gel pens. Singhi further explains the theme, “We want to carry forward the idea that writing can sometimes save lives too — whether it’s a doctor writing a prescription for a patient, or a partner leaving behind a note on the fridge that says ‘Breakfast inside!”’ Here are five cool things to check out at the upcoming show.
Write for Good panel
The show will open with a panel discussion on what writing for good means today. Filmmaker Ravi Jadhav, writer and visual artist Sanjiv Khandekar and actor-poet Deepti Naval will share their personal stories of stumbling upon fountain pens and their love for it. In addition to this, leading economist Bibek Debroy will join senior IT Commissioner Shyamsundar Keshkamat and GST Commissioner Ajay Vaidya to throw light on how GST rules have affected pen manufacturers in India.
Doodling workshops
A zen doodle session attendee shows off his work
Over the last two editions of the show, doodling workshops have been a hit among kids. These workshops will take the attendees through the kind of pens to use for doodling, best techniques to add layers and gradations, and methods to create intricate designs through Zen art. Attendees can even leave behind these doodles on the Write for Good Wall or on postcards that will be sent as surprise gifts by the organisers to those they are addressed to.
Devanagari and other calligraphy workshops
A mother-daughter duo at a previous Devanagari workshop
Among the events, the calligraphy workshops in the Devanagari script stand out. Club this with Arabic and Kannada lettering to learn how one differs from the other. All three workshops will take place on Day 2 and 3 of the show.
Ink testing station with 50-plus colours
At the experience hall, people will get to try out more than 50 colours of ink. A variety of pens across brands, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 500, will be displayed for enthusiasts to sketch, write, and test. This is a great space not only for vendors and emerging manufacturers to showcase their pens but also for those who are new to the world of fountain pens to discover the beauty of it.
Robert Oster’s exclusive Mumbai colour ink
The leading Australian ink brand Robert Oster will be launching a new colour created exclusively for India called Midnight Mumbai at the show. It is named after the midnight skies of the city that never sleeps. Nisha Singhi, who is also one of the first woman fountain pen manufacturer, calls this one of the highlights of the pen festival. “It’s like seeing a little representation of Mumbai in ink,” she tells us.
On: February 17 to 19; 8.30 pm
At: Nehru Centre, Worli
Log on to: insider.in
Cost: Rs 350
From the collector’s pen
I used to write with fountain pens in school, and was lucky to have been exposed to Parker pens — a luxury for most middle-class families. In 2010, after a significant professional milestone, I bought the Montblanc 149 to mark the occasion. That led me to begin collecting fountain pens. There is something soulful about the sound of a fountain pen’s nib on paper. I use it to write in my journal, or write notes to loved ones for a personal touch. Most of my collection is dominated by pens from Montblanc, Pilot, and Namiki, along with a few beautiful vintage ones that are 100-plus years old.
Harish Narasimhan, regular attendee and fountain pen collector
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