Arun Singhi. Lotus pens. I don’t remember how many stories I have done about the brand, about the man, or the fantastic pens that he turns. Suffice it to say, you guys never tire of asking me to do another, and I don’t tire of doing them either. The fact of the matter is, they deserve to be here. The Pens are here on merit. They just force one to swoon about them.
Here is a man who started his pen-turning career at the ripe old age of 67 and has not stopped conquering hearts since then. Here is a man, who despite his advancing age and failing health, has not stopped daring to experiment – be that with the materials used or the design elements incorporated in his creations. Here is a man who started the brand in 2017 and has, in the last couple of years, curved out a distinct nice for himself, not only in India, but in the global fountain pen-loving space. That an Indian brand is successfully competing with the big and the mighty of the world is fascinating in itself. That Lotus has catapulted itself into the ring, fighting it out with legacy brands that have years of experience behind them, that too in less than a decade, is what makes the story even more compelling.
And what is more, Lotus has never stopped evolving as a brand. Look at the little extras – a printed kimono as the pen sleeve, a well-crafted wooden box as the cover, a printed booklet that tells the story of the brand – it has taken unboxing to a new high. Point it, Lotus had hit on the winning formula – hand turned, eye-candy resin bodies with Jowo nibs and Schmidt converters; matched with robust, well-made clips, and rings. I have never faced a quality control issue with a Lotus pen, which, as Arun Singhi puts it, is something, on which rides his reputation, and therefore taken with the seriousness that it deserves.
The Lotus pricing is smart – just a shade above the “me-too” competition, but strictly resisting the urge to go overboard. Now that is a winning combination if ever there was one. What needs to be underscored here is simple – even after hitting the jackpot as it were, Lotus has not rested on its laurels, constantly churning out newer and newer models, offering just enough to keep the adrenalin flowing. Viewed from another angle, this strategy, of strictly adhering to the mom-and-pop model, refusing to scale up beyond one’s natural abilities, has also been a winner – the demand-supply mismatch ensures that the price holds firm and that there is a steady flow of orders. Win-win, like they say.
But what really sets Lotus apart is Arun Singhi himself. He is ever so genial, affable, and approachable, catering even to often impossible whims from the community with a smile. He makes it a point to attend most of the pen and ink industry events, where his spread attracts eyeballs that are enough to keep the cash -registers tingling. It will not be out of place to mention another fact here – among fountain pen fanatics, Lotus is the brand that perhaps enjoys the highest number of repeat customers, yours truly included. No, I don’t expect people who think, “It is only another pen” to understand what I am trying to convey here. Thank You.
Take this Valentine for example. I acquired it because it is red, and reminded me of Julia Roberts in “The Woman in Red.” I acquired it because of the hourglass figure, perhaps Merilyn Monroe? I acquired it because my collection of Lotus pens wanted their family to keep expanding. I acquired it because it was love at first sight. No, I did not need to touch it, or test it – the built, the quality, the feel, and most importantly, the functionality of the pen were things that I could take for granted. I guess, that is what the reputation of a brand is all about.
Do I need to wax eloquent about how beautifully the pen writes? Or how it feels in the hand? Or for that matter, how it peeps from my shirt pocket and engages the discerning eye? Or even the fact that Lotus products come with a lifetime guarantee? Not really.
Some of you may be inquisitive about how much the pen cost. The price? Doesn’t really matter. Some things are priceless.
May God bless Arun Singhi with a long and healthy life so that he may continue to spread joy among us fountain pen and ink lovers. May the Lotus continue to bloom.
please check the video here: