INKED IN INDIA: Fountain Pens and a Story of Make and Unmake

I was drawn to this book, written by fellow collectors though belonging to a different ilk: I was thinking of writing a book on my chess set collection. I was curious as to how the authors would breathe life, mainly by making it interesting on a topic concerning insentient objects.At the onset, one is struck by the role of serendipity in how the authors came together and collectively wrote this seminal work. Covid gave them the much-needed impetus to complete the book. Kudos to their work, as there has been no previous attempt, and the material available was scant. Despite achieving this daunting task, the authors are very humble in stating that this has been the first attempt and there is room for more improvements. Quoting from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, “Therefore you must not, in every case at least, take the higgledy-piggledy whale statements, however authentic, in these extracts, for veritable gospel cetology. Far from it.”The book primarily focuses on two aspects: 1. The History of Inks and Pens2 The wrong economic policies responsible for stymieing the ink and pen industry in IndiaThe authors delve into the hoary past, the ninth century informing us of the beginnings and the etymology of several words about inks and pens. They garnish many factoids with anecdotes involving luminaries of the past. For instance, Motilal Nehru, in a fit of anger, spanked Pandit Nehru over the latter, taking a fountain pen. The authors apply their knowledge to account for the former’s rage.In his recent coronation King Charles was visibly infuriated with the fountain pen. He could have controlled his temper had he known what was given in this book as well. Mark Twain: None of us have as many virtues as the fountain pen or half its cussedness, but we can try.

Excellent book

1/4 stuff interesting1/4 stuff is okay2/4 is unnecessary

This book is scathing indictment of Gandhi and his destructive self serving ideology. Gandhi was stubborn when it came to modernity. He wanted Indians to live in villages like they used to live in medieval era. He was totally against technology, though he did not mind travelling by steam ships to England to meet people there. He did not mind travelling by Railway.The book has excerpts of his letters written to various people. These are shocking. He was pretty authoritarian when it comes to his followers. He brooked no defiance or resistance of his orders and scolded them severely. One sample is here -"In October 1938, he wrote to Lilavati Asar, ‘And do not follow Mahadev’s example of writing with a fountain-pen. I tolerate Mahadev’s fountain-pen because Mahadev is a scribe. You are not a scribe and are not going to be one. So, I shall not, and I should not tolerate the fountain-pen in your case.’ "Fountain pen is one example of the human ingenuity like Swiss watches or motor cycles or motor cars. You use the fountain pen once and you never look at ball point pen again. You have to use it to appreciate its beauty.

All fountain pen enthusiasts, this is a must read if you are really proud about the heritage of Indian fountain pen manufacturers.

An interesting if a bit dry read. Written by historians not writers.