- The 7th International Pen Festival inaugurated in the city
- 140 colors of ink variants on display
- Pens of Indian and International made available
PUNE: The 7th International Pen Festival was inaugurated by Dr. Medha Kulkarni; National Vice President of BJP Women’s Wing in the city today. Shailesh Bhandari; Managing Director of B U Bhandari Automotive Pvt. Ltd., Surendra Karamchandani; Partner at Writing Wonders, Prof. Yashwant Pitkar from J J School of Architecture, Yusuf Mansoor, and others were also present on the occasion.
“Being in the jewelry business for over 18 years now, I was always exposed to intricate engravings on metals. This is what led me to explore the nib engravings and helped me find my passion for it. The primary demand is for gold nibs followed by the steel ones,” said Gaurav Kapoor, a hand nib engraver hailing from Ambala. While giving more information about the same he shared that the nib engravings can be customized as per the demands as well. Punekars can witness the nib engravings of Lord Ganesha, the Trishul of Lord Shiva, and many other interesting designs as well.
Open to all today and tomorrow (21st and 22nd October 2023) this exclusive showcase is presented by Writing Wonders at the Siddhi (Saaj) Garden and Banquets, D.P. Road, near Mhatre Bridge from 10 am to 8 pm. This festival showcases 75 different brands including limited, vintage, and newly launched collections of pens. There is also a special display of a 24-karat gold-plated ‘Ayodhya’ pen set, depicting figures of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
Announcing the official opening of the 7th International Pen Festival, Dr. Medha Kulkarni said, “In today’s era wherein everything is replaced with technology, I am glad to witness the 7th edition of a grand Pen Festival in the city. It is proof that people still want to stay connected to their roots. Pens have an emotional connection to all as scriptures and historical evidence have been passed on to us because they were penned down in the past.”
Apart from Nib engraving, the other attraction of this year’s Pen Festival is the ‘Pen Doctor’ Ahmed Khan from Thane whose hobby is to repair fountain pens at economical costs. “For a lot of people, owning a fountain pen is a prized possession and they look forward to treasuring it as a vintage memory. But when these pens stop working, it is heartbreaking and people don’t know what to do next. That’s when Pen Doctors like me help pen lovers preserve their treasure,” expressed Pen Doctor, Ahmed Khan.
The Festival also displays 140 color variants of ink by a 150-year-old UK-based brand. These high-quality inks are also said to be used by the Royal Families of the UK and the US presidents. They also have a special shimmer ink for handwritten wedding cards, along with a variety of calligraphy and drawing inks.
As is the tradition, this year’s exhibition is displaying legendary signature pens of stalwarts like P.L. Deshpande and Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam along with special Chintoo Pens for children. The festival has also organized a lucky draw wherein one can get a chance to win a premium pen. Prof. Gopan Vakode, a signature artist from Buldhana is also demonstrating practical Marathi signatures.
