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 largest in the world, with a footfall of over 16,000 recorded in 2025!
There are compelling reasons behind this runaway success of the Chennai event as well. For one, it is extremely well organised. Before embarking on organising the show in Chennai, Aditya and his team visited the Tokyo Pen Show to witness first-hand the professionalism that sets the winners apart, and one must admit that it was indeed a case of lessons well-learnt. For two, the sheer number of exhibitors – 50 plus in 2025, showcasing upward of 200 brands, it is a veritable souk for pen addicts.
And what brands – from the swadeshi Sulekha to the now Indian owned global prime mover Sheaffer; form the internationally acknowledged St Dupont to the homegrown Ranga; from India’s largest Click and Kanwrite to boutique turners like Lotus, ASA, and Vazir; from dealers in vintage pens to ones offering 3d printed models; from stationery items to inks of every hue, from Diplomat and Pelikan to Chinese and Japanese pens – the show is like a broad spectrum antibiotic that is capable of addressing the ailment of every one suffering from an inkling for inks and pens!
Another reason for visiting the show is the opportunity it provides to meet in person some of the most revered names in the Indian pen-and-ink world. Pandurangan, the patriarch of Ranga Pens from Thiruvallur, and Arun Singhi of Lotus Pens in Mumbai, with a combined experience of more than a century of pen turning, are permanent fixtures. As are stalwarts like Harsh Gagwani, Apoorv Kulkarni, Hiro Motwani, Kaushik Maitra, Subramaniam, and others. Pratap Kumar of Gama pens, another colossus of the industry, also attends, though his iconic Gem and Co does not participate in the show.
“Pen shows like these provide us manufacturers with an excellent platform to showcase our products to the community” says Harsh Gagwani of Click. This is of vital interest considering the fact that the industry spends precious little in terms of direct advertisements. “It is also an opportunity to touch base with the other key players in the industry, keep oneself abreast of the latest global developments, and forge alliances, especially with dealers from other parts of the Nation.” The south of India continues to be one of the major regions where fountain pens are very much in use, and the amount of B2B dealings that the Chennai Pen Show helps cement is phenomenal, though actual figures are hard to come by.
However, in terms of the sheer business generated at the Chennai Pen Show, organisers confirm that every year since the show started in 2024, the sales have chalked increasing gains year on year, a trend that is expected to be maintained in the current year. Industry watchers point out that this consistent growth cannot be simply explained by the growing popularity of fountain pens and inks across India, and credit must be given to the organisers who have facilitated the achievement of such figures.
India now holds six or more Pen Shows regularly – two each in Pune and Kolkata, one in Bangalore and one in Chennai – which goes to show that the fountain pen has made a comeback, contrary to popular belief. In fact, the proliferation of shows also underscores the fact that the market is healthy enough to sustain them and that the community of pen lovers is a growing, thriving one.
The first pen show that I had attended was TIPS in Mumbai. The year was 2019, and since then, at every subsequent pen show, I have witnessed an increase in the number of participating brands, most choosing the Show to announce their arrival. This can mean only one thing: that entrepreneurs see potential in the segment and are willing to take the plunge. Old brands that were languishing in past glories have also made comebacks, Sulekha and Beena, being prime examples, while some marquee brands like Mohi have joined the caravan of shows, albeit after much thought. The community of enthusiasts has also grown exponentially, and the knowledge displayed by some, especially youngsters, about all things pen, ink, and writing, is astounding to put
things mildly.
Says Kaushik Maitra of Sulekha,”it is such a pleasure to see youngsters picking up the pen and ink, among others, as sustainable writing instruments, as a tool against digital domination of lives. For our forefathers, the ink was the symbol of our fight against opression. Today, to see the same ink emerging as a symbol in the fight against climate change and plastic pollution makes our resolve to continue the struggle only stronger.”
The countdown to the Chennai Pen Show has started, and I am as excited as any other lover of fountain pens and inks. I also look forward to three days spent in the company of fellow kalamophiles. Hope to see you there.