Backgrounder The 6th Inked Happiness Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Dr Bibek Debroy on July 27th 2024 in a ceremony befitting the occasion in the Vivekananda Hall of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark. Swami Suviranandaji Maharaj handed over the Award in the presence of Swami Suparnanandaji Maharaj,
Starmark is undoubtedly a “go-to” destination for bibliophiles, stationery lovers, and increasingly, fountain pen and ink aficionados in Kolkata. Naturally, when Starmark celebrates its 25th year, the city sits up to take note. As someone who has spent half my life browsing and buying from the different Starmark outlets, I
Imagine an army of scribes going to war. Steady, Consistent, Unwavering… Marching in unison. All wearing the same army fatigues. Carrying the same weapons. Armed with imported, functional nibs. XXX But uniformity suppresses creativity, compelling one to conform. And, You had once unfurled the banner of protest. You
Where do connoisseurs go to buy their fountain pens and inks and accessories? The question becomes even more important if you are new to the hobby, are discerning enough to be brand conscious, and at the same time do not wish to splurge by paying inordinately hefty sums for your
The 1st Edition of the India Pen Show (TIPS) in 2019 was a watershed event. It was to date, the biggest show of its kind in India; was reasonably well organized at the Nehru Centre in Worli; had solid participation from fountain pens, inks, and accessory makers from all parts
Do not ask me to explain the chemistry but it is a fact that a combination of a pen and ink and paper is likely to give rise to different results under different circumstances. A thin Fine, dry nib will allow less ink to flow onto the surface than a
Well, let me begin this one with a confession – I am not an expert. I do not have any academic qualification to make such claims, nor do I have the inclination of being a self-styled one, someone who acts like a know-it-all, foot firmly in the mouth. Collecting fountain
Radhika Nath Saha – unsung hero of the Indian fountain pen by Dr Sovan Roy first hit the stands in 2019 and immediately had created a blast the kind of which are seldom seen. For one, such an in-depth academic exercise had not been witnessed, especially in the field of
John Culmer has been repairing and restoring fountain pens for over thirty years, having acquired the skill from his father Charlie. John’s skill is such that his services are recommended by Parker and Waterman. Today, although the Peel Pen Shop (London) retail store location has now closed, John still repairs
PFM. Pen for Men. Introduced in 1959, it was the extension of Sheaffer’s hugely successful Snorkel line of fountain pens. It was a big, fat, phallic creation aimed at catering to the misplaced machismo of men – a tome built by the boys, for the boys. When later versions of
Meet Anil Thaman, the 64-year-old-youngster who has stunned the disbelievers by clinching the second space in the World handwriting Contest of 2021 organised by the reigning diva of dancing letters Kate Gladstone. As he puts it himself: “to be apart from home and family and move to a different country
Pen Boutique, Leena Shrestha Menon and a story from the World Wide Web’s favourite pen, paper and ink store! Inked Happiness: What’s new at our favourite store – Pen Boutique? Leena Shrestha Menon, Pen Boutique: Now that the pandemic is winding down and restrictions are lifting, our store hours are
