In June 2025, US and Israeli forces targeted Iran’s military (read alleged nuclear facilities) before a unilateral cessation of hostilities, after the declaration of mission accomplished. Then, the exchange rate of the INR to the US Dollar averaged around 85.92. Brent crude oil prices had averaged approximately in the range
The Chennai Pen Show has quietly carved out a distinct niche for itself in the global calendar of events dedicated to pens, inks, accessories, and stationery items. I use the term “global” consciously, as Aditya Bhansali of Endless, the organisers of the show, says the Chennai Pen Show is the
The 7th Inked Happiness Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Nikil Ranjan on August 1st, 2025, at the Eastern Metropolitan Club, Kolkata, in a solemn ceremony. The Award recognizes lives dedicated to the cause of fountain pens and inks, and has in the past been won by the Late Dr Bibek Debroy, Prof. K C
The 7th Inked Happiness Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon Mr. Nikil Ranjan on August 1st, 2025, at the Metropolitan Bypass Club, Kolkata. The Award recognizes lives dedicated to the cause of fountain pens and inks, and has in the past been won by the Late Dr Bibek Debroy
Starmark, with its enviable presence in the major shopping malls in Kolkata (five in the last count: City Centre Salt Lake & New Town, Mani Square, Quest, and South City), is the go-to destination for book lovers. The store formats are extremely user-friendly, the collections are thought-provoking, and the staff
The final of the ICC Champions Trophy was on 9th March 2025. And India was playing. Naturally, organisers and participants alike were a bit skeptical, fearing that cricket will keep the crowds glued to their sets at home, affecting footfall at the Chennai Pen Show. Not unjustified, considering that cricket
We are just back from the 1st Chennai Pen Show which was organised by Aditya Bhansali and his team of super-efficient achievers. Well, the platitudes are deliberate – for here was a show that like a pack of trump cards, excelled on all counts. For the habitual nitpickers among us,
Aditya Bhansali was one of the early movers in the fountain pen and ink marketing space in India. His initial forays were marked by the creation of, and the successful running of his e-commerce site www.thepenworld.com , which continues to set the industry standards, apart from enjoying the distinction of
The great depression had brought the roaring twenties to a cruel halt in the USA. Fountain pen sales, had plummeted, resulting in a number of pen brands going irretrievably under. The big four – Parker, Sheaffer, Waterman and Eversharp – were battered, with some facing sales losses of upwards of
August Eberstein and Alfred Nehemias are names that are well known to fountain pen fanatics. The names Kyugoro Sakata and Walter A Sheaffer are also recognized instantly. And they should be, for they are the founders of Montblanc, Sailor and Sheaffer pens respectively, people who have created brands that have
It is, at first look, liable to be mistaken as a defender guarding the galaxies with its bold Art Deco silhouette, a comfortable balanced weight and a military styled clip inspired by the vintage Sheaffer Balance. It goes without saying that not every pen has in it the inner power
Kolkata has often been called the Cultural Capital of the Nation – killing fields for the Tagores and the Rays (and innumerable others) that have, and continue to dominate our perceptions. While the creative history of the city is mostly well-documented, what is less known is the story of the
