The timeless art of writing took center stage in Pune as the 9th International Pen Festival transformed into a vibrant homage to the pen's enduring power. Held over two days, January 10 and 11, at Siddhi Banquet on DP Road, the event attracted connoisseurs, collectors, and curious minds, reinforcing the belief that the pen remains a mighty cultural force.
A Global and Local Marketplace for Pen Aficionados
This year's festival saw a significant expansion, featuring 40 exhibition stalls, which marked an increase of ten stalls compared to the previous edition. The aisles were a testament to both global craftsmanship and regional pride. Attendees could explore premium and limited-edition offerings from international powerhouses like Germany's Pelikan, France's ST Dupont, England's Lapis Bard, and Japan's Sailor.
Simultaneously, homegrown Indian brands held their own. Stalwarts such as Mohi from Aurangabad, Beena from Mumbai, and Click from Indore showcased the depth of domestic pen-making talent. The festival was not just about the pens themselves; it also displayed over one hundred shades of premium inks, a dedicated "pen doctor" booth for free repairs, and an exhibition by Dr. Manohar Desai that traced the history of writing from palm leaves and rocks to modern instruments.
Artisans, Innovation, and Living Heritage
The festival shone a spotlight on the individuals keeping niche art forms alive. A standout was Vivek Kulkarni of Urushi Studio India, a retired engineer who has mastered the ancient Japanese Urushi lacquer art. Each of his pens, a collaboration with a single artist, involves layering tree sap with gold or silver, a process taking up to five months and commanding prices from Rs 40,000 to Rs 8 lakh. He unveiled "Bhavani," a pen inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's sword, expressing his desire to train others to preserve this heritage.
Innovation was on display at the Sailor brand's interactive buffet, where visitors could see fountain pen components assembled in real time. Anant Pathak's Mohi brand highlighted the durability of ebonite pens, while Nisha Singhi's Vazir brand, co-run with her daughter Vinisha, showcased contemporary craftsmanship that has earned government commissions, including pens for the International Chess Olympiad.
Adding a personal touch, Gopal Wakode from Buldhana offered exquisite Marathi signatures, championing the importance of signing one's name in their native script.
Reflections and Aspirations for the Future
The festival was as much about philosophy as commerce. Yusuf Mansoor, a 60-year-old pen historian from Patna with a 40-year collection, reflected on the fountain pen's therapeutic value in a digital age, calling it an "instrument of establishing connectivity within you."
While the event was largely praised, some visitors saw room for growth. Suggestions included bringing back diverse paper stalls, hosting talks by brand founders, and having calligraphy workshops for children, pointing to the festival's untapped potential.
Inaugurating the event, Krishnakumar Goyal, chairman of Kohinoor Group, captured the sentiment of the gathering with his hopeful remark: "Someday, these pens in this hallway might even write history." The 9th International Pen Festival successfully proved that in the hands of artisans, historians, and enthusiasts, the pen's legacy is not just preserved but continually reinvented.
