PUNE: Nikhil Ranjan, the CEO of William Penn, which has acquired 110-year-old American company Sheaffer, believes that India will be bigger than China in plastic pen manufacturing and pen exports. Ranjan was speaking during the recently held 6th International Pen Festival, organized by Writing Wonders, at the JW Marriott Hotel on Senapati Bapat Road.
Ranjan said, “India is exporting the largest amount of refills and plastic pens. India is a large market by itself and an export base for refills and plastic pens. It will only grow as more people look to India as an alternative to China. India will be bigger than China in plastic pen manufacturing and pen exports.”
“Pen industry is closely linked to the education sector. India has the largest number of young kids in the world, hence the pen industry is going to be big in the country,” he added.
Over 70 brands of pens, including Indian and International, were exhibited at the festival. Pens of different sizes, shapes, colours and made from different materials like gold, silver, copper, and titanium along with ink pots and different inks, were on display.
The attention of visitors was caught by a Rs 5 lakh pen – The Montegrappa Batman Limited Edition Pen, which is made from titanium. Astakona – a 22-carat gold plated pen with an 18-carat solid gold nib from Stex, also became the cynosure of eyes. There were a couple of other attractions – Marathi signature artist Gopal Wakode from Buldhana and a display of historical artifacts of writing material by Prof Manohar Desai.
An art teacher, Wakode showed Marathi signatures in four different styles and he has initiated a campaign to revive Marathi signatures. He has trained over 4 lakh people on how to sign in Marathi and has conceptualized 15 formats of Marathi signatures.
Desai has collected old ink pots of various sizes and shapes, including that of animals like elephants and rabbits, letter boxes, brush cases, brush stands, tool boxes, and manuscripts, and all the rare artifacts are on display.
The special edition of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Pen, which bears the signature of the former India President and ace scientist, was also launched during the festival. ‘I love India’ is engraved on its nib and it is a numbered pen.
