Hyderabad was the venue for a unique exhibition of pens recently. InKspiration, held on Saturday (November 15), was aimed at helping children get to know the oldest handwriting tool better. Hobbyist P. Mallikarjuna Rao hit upon the idea of showcasing different models of pens, including some that can be used on the computer and other gadgets that the new generation is addicted to.
Showcased at the exhibition were fanciful pens shaped like a mike, cherries, a short midget pen the size of a finger, heavy pens weighing over 4 kg, pens that came fitted with a light for elders, and a martial arts pen that amazed a crowd of schoolchilden.
While pictures of gold and diamond-studded Gaia, Visconti, Van Cleef, Meisterstuck, Parker, Mont Blanc, and Diamante pens amaze visitors for their fabulous prices, the crow-quill and reed pens seem to have vanished into the pages of history.
The exhibition also featured the story of Lewis Waterman, the New York insurance broker who was spurred to finetune the steady flow of ink through a capillary feed fountain pen after he lost a huge contract to a spilling pen in the 18th century... interesting facts from history that were lapped up by the young gathering as they went around the exhibition.
It was truly an awe-inspiring display of pens.
Text and Photos: P. V. Sivakumar