Where pens are passion, craft and collector’s pride

Pen sellers and buyers converge for the three-day Hyderabad Fountain Pen Show, which began on Friday. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti

The faint smell of fountain pen ink, the rustle of pen cases being opened and the animated chatter of collectors comparing nibs and finishes set the tone at a gathering in Hyderabad on Friday. Across two rooms, pens in an array of shapes, sizes and materials drew stylophiles into conversations about the craft, precision and pleasure of writing.

Pen sellers and manufacturers from across the country, including Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, gathered at the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry facility in Lakdi ka Pul here for the three-day Hyderabad Fountain Pen Show.

“These pens are expensive because they are made with a material called Urushi, a natural lacquer, that is secreted by the Urushi tree in Japan. It is rare as only 200 milliliters is secreted in a year and I use it to make the pens in Pune,” said Vivek Kulkarni, an attendee who showcased dozens of pens, while keeping three in a messenger bag.