Ratnam Pens: An Iconic anti- imperialist Indian brand

(Image source: Satishkolluru.com)

As the year draws to a close, I have started reflecting on the brands and their history that I have covered over the year. From Pepsi to Apple, I have written, analyzed and debated the brands, their origins and their leaders.

Today I received a gift from my wife, which is an Iconic Indian brand. Ratnam Pens or Swadeshi pens were launched by KV Ratnam in the year 1932. It was an aftermath of the launch of the Swadeshi movement. In those days there were no Indian brands in the market and all pens manufactured came from England, a fact that is hard to imagine today.

But back then the principle of Imperialism was that all local Indian industries were destroyed and India used to serve as a source of raw materials for the mills and factories of Manchester and on return a source of finished goods for them as well.

When Gandhiji met KV Ratnam he urged him to consider manufacturing something utilitarian and hence was born the pioneer in the writing Instrument industry in India Ratnam pens.

Many congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, VV Giri, Rajendra Prasad and Indira Gandhi have used Ratnam pens. Mahatma Gandhi heralded the creation of the pen as a hall mark movement in the swadeshi industry in India.
The basic Ratnam pen is made of hard rubber or ‘ebonite’. It used an iridium tip that is manufactured in Germany. The tips are sometimes made of gold as well which is 14 carat gold, but these are made on order only. Otherwise the pen can have a gold, silver or stainless steel nib.

All pens even today are handmade and take about 2 days to manufacture. All pens are made at the Fort Gate Street in Rajahmundry. Though ball point pens are made as well, I am more keen to kep the scope of this piece on the fountain pens.

But I think hardly anyone has heard of the Ratnam pens. Why is that?

Firstly, overall the fountain pen has given way to ball points. Hence Ratnam pens have also faced a lack of demand for them.

Secondly the very nature of a handmade pen does not give it the flexibility to be mass produced. The lack of volumes affects the revenues and hence the marketing budgets required to raise awareness and promote the pens.

Thirdly the very context of made in India has a new meaning, a time when cars to computers are now manufactured domestically and our then nemesis England hardly produces anything now. As a matter of fact English establishments like Tetley, Corus , land Rover and Blackburn Rover Football Club are now owned by Indian businesses.

So what is the future of the Ratnam pens? I believe the possible steps need to be taken to preserve an icon of Indian industry.

1. Ratnam pens are a collector item, we can use it for gifting purposes to other connoisseurs of writing that we know.
2. Instead of commemorating an event using a plaque, we can get a Ratnam pen commissioned which will be in Gandhiji’s words of much more utilitarian nature than a plaque or a shield.
3. Encourage children to take up calligraphy as an art, this in a world dominated by the digital media would serve as a good differentiator and bring back the art of writing with fountain pens.

Indian industry is still a very important part of our daily lives. So before you hop across the street and buy your next ball point, pause and think again. There might be 80 years of anti-imperialist swadeshi movement buried in the buying of a Ratnam pen. And it is in our interests to keep that movement going.

For all those interesting in buying a Ratnam pen, please contact

Sri Ramanamurthy,
Ratnam Ballpen Works,
10-7-18, FORTGATE,
RAJAHMUNDRY-533101,
AP.
Tel: 0883-2498782

Bangalore Buyers can contact Penfold venture
 174/A, Near Nilgiris supermarket, 19th Main Road, 4TH Sector, HSR Layout, Bangalore - 560102
www.penfolds.in