Pen Hospital - Kolkata (with subtitles)
Pen Hospital - where yesterday meets tomorrow
At one point in time, I used to visit the Pen Hospital with almost religious regularity - spending my Saturday afternoons there in the company of Md Riaz and so often the other pen lovers who would walk in. I have acquired innumerable fountain pens from the establishment just like the pen, ink, and people stories that I have picked up from there. Naturally, I cherished those days and when Md Riaz passed away not so long ago, something snapped within me.
In the meantime, I had started my video channel, and believe me, the greatest number of requests that I received from viewers, especially viewers from outside Kolkata, came with the suggestion that we do a story on the Pen Hospital. Many had heard about the iconic establishment and wanted to see it for themselves, some wanted to see the people behind the counter, while some were just curious about the pens. However, try as I did, I just could not make myself go back to my old haunt, for I was scared that I will end up making a public spectacle of my very private grief.
But one must learn how to face challenges, and however wrenching it was to me, I did go to Pen Hospital and was successful in shooting a video that I hope you all will enjoy. I have written extensively about Pen Hospital in the past and will not get into the details. Suffice it to say, pen Hospital is a legacy address where Md Imtiaz - the third generation in the business and the elder brother of late Md Riyaz - is now holding the fort, even as he passes on to Md Shahbaz, his nephew (Md Riaz’ son), priceless knowledge that has been gleaned over the last eight decades at the least.
Yes, the Pen Hospital continues to be a dingy, ramshackle place hidden by countless hawkers whose bright displays make it impossible to identify it from the main thoroughfare. Yes, the authorities continue to send shivers down the collective spine with demolition and eviction notices. Yes, legal eagles and bureaucrats and writers and fountain pen aficionados continue to throng the place in search of the elusive grail pen that we all believe should land in our pockets. Yes, antique, and vintage pens change hands as the owners of Pen Hospital try to rehabilitate the right pen in the right loving home that they deserve. Yes, many a workhorse that has faithfully served our fathers and grandfathers gets a fresh lease of life as they are mended back to perfection. Nothing seems to have changed. Not since the time I had first visited the establishment with my father many summers ago.
But things have changed too. For one, the number of youngsters walking in to try (and buy) vintage fountain pens has increased manifold. There are two striking things about these young buyers - they are extremely knowledgeable about the pens they seek and they are not ones whose hunger can be satiated with a cheap Chinese knock-off, however desirable the price-to-quality ratio may be. They are however and I was so happy to witness this firsthand, open to acquiring India-made fountain pens.
“Yes, you can say that there is a genuine surge in demand for quality fountain pens in the present with only about a couple of buyers in a hundred looking for expensive dot pens,” said Md Imtiaz, which is nothing short of a trend reversal to put things mildly. “The number of young people who have taken up writing with and collecting fountain pens too has gone up substantially. While imported pens have seen a rise in their prices due to the US Dollar becoming dearer, demand for both new and vintage fountain pens have kept pace, evening things out as it were.”
Austin, who had brought pens from his father’s collection back in Chicago, United States, was ecstatic with the quality of craftsmanship and the price that was charged for the service. And more than anything else, it is because of this that we should all stand firmly behind entities like the Pen Hospital that still dot the different cities of India. The art of turning and nib making, for which our craftsmen were revered around the world is already as dead as a doornail - if we continue to look the other way, the skillsets that are required to mend fountain pens, especially the vintage and the antique ones, will also be lost forever.
It is such a pleasure seeing Md Imtiaz trying to pass on to Md Shahbaz the tricks that he in turn learned from his father and his grandfather. May God give them long lives. And may the Pen Hospital continue to glue the community of fountain pen lovers together from here to eternity.
Hope you enjoy the video.
Pen Hospital - Kolkata
Kolkata's 77 years old Pen Hospital, Pens are the patient here.
#penhospital #kolkata #history #পেনসারানোরহাসপাতাল #ধর্মতলা #India #Pens
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Пікірлер: 51
The gentleman of Pen Hospital is very decent n well-behaved person. I have been coming here since my childhood, never got disappointed in case of repairing a fountain pen. I wish him all the best. And thnks a lot Mr. Chawm Ganguly.
Wonderful video, and a great piece of history centered around fountain pens! The fact that this business is located in Esplanade- once the British urban centre of Calcutta (now, of course, Kolkata)- lends it an unusual charm; this shop's setting and atmosphere is an extremely rare thing to come across, and it is certainly so for vintage fountain pen aficionados who generally care for history, heritage, and authenticity. I have fond memories with Riaz Bhai: I bought a Parker Vacumatic (Azure Pearl) pen from him back in October 2019 when I was visiting Kolkata. This was a Parker Vacumatic Major (Canada), and the cosmetic condition of the pen was quite good. I think I paid a very reasonable price for the item, and Riaz Bhai was actually very kind to offer me the best pen he had (he had two Vacumatics for sale at the time, the other being a green Vacumatic Minor). When the pen's filling mechanism failed (after all these years the ageing mechanism is prone to give in, so it was readily accepted), I had it repaired by Pen Home (UK), and the output of their service and cosmetic touches was a superbly elegant fountain pen from the 1950s (1953 to be exact)! I paid Pen Home GBP 45 for the fix, and even after adding the price of the repair this purchase from The Pen Hospital (which cost me Rs 3,500 in 2019) proved to be an amazing investment. Good Parker Vacumatics (with relatively transparent barrels) sell online for far more than what my pen ultimately cost me. The memory of Riaz Bhai, and my fountain pen sourcing trip to Kolkata make me treasure this pen. The pen has come to symbolize the crumbling facades of the Raj Era buildings that line up along the warren of streets in Esplanade. There is a certain grandeur and an authenticity in the faded glory of a bygone era of this area- immensely admirable and important to my mind- and I do not mean to use the word "crumbling" at all in a pejorative sense- deserving our deep regard. Pens such as the Parker Vacumatic, of course, continue! Overhaul the filling system, and it is ready to write for another 50 years; we may find it in different continents, in different eras with its then current owner- they are time travelers in the true sense of the word, and not faded by the ravages of time! I also agree that many Indian pens are offering excellent value to the collector, especially in terms of aesthetics, and the superb price- quality ratio. I have a Click, and an Airmail fountain pen, and they are hard to fault! Lastly, I would like to thank Chawm Da again for dedicating himself with so much love and application to the wonderful world of fountain pens. It is through such passion and commitment that we marvel at the transformative capability of the written word, and the lovely instruments that make that possible.
Thanks Chawmda for the wonderful video...Sagnik is a regular visitor ......as a matter of fact Sagnik was much loved by Mr.Riaz , unfortunately whom we had lost in the CORONA DAYS.........
First of all the video looks stunning. But for me that template overlay was not necessary. Now, I got to know about this place from Anandabazar Patrika . A great video sir.
Wish we had such a ‘hospital’ here in Bengaluru..
Very nice I always use to go there in pen hospital Efficient man is Imtiaz uncle
if you want, you can read the blog post here:: www.inkedhappiness.com/pen-hospital-where-yesterday-meets-tomorrow/
Love your videos💖💖
Awesome... keep doing good video
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
thank you :)
Wow! Is that the owner of Sulekha, Mr. Maitra in the background? 2:06 All the OGs in one frame!
Wonderful
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
Thank you
I found it difficult to understand because of the language. Subtitles could have helped. I am slow in understanding Bengali language. A few things are not understood. Anyways that’s your choice and liberty to select the language of the content. I can’t force anyone. Good luck
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
will try and see if we can add the subtitles :)
Dada plz add English subtitles for non Bengali audience
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
dada, you wished and i complied - please take a look at the subtitles :)
Nice video. Happy done editing was done to cut redundancy. Sorry for the loss of your friend. I appreciate the subtitles, but wish they also extended to the 4th generation pen doctor. I wonder if it would be advisable to send pens to the shop for repair and how the service and cost are. Aloha.
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
even by indian standards they are cheap. the work is also fairly good in as much that they can get almost any pen running.... but obviously, getting the original parts as replacements is often difficult, their work being suspect to that extent.
@AndrewWertheimer
Жыл бұрын
@@inkedhappiness I see. Good to know. In the USA it used to be inexpensive and easy to get fountain pen sacs replaced but there are fewer places now that can do that.
:)
Does they have Parker 45 fountain pen?
@inkedhappiness
8 ай бұрын
they should :)
Is wing sung 233 still available there ?
@inkedhappiness
11 ай бұрын
yes, but mostly the used ones :)
@theprogamer4314
11 ай бұрын
Is there any non used? It's my favourite
Are they closed on Sunday?
@inkedhappiness
8 ай бұрын
yes, they are:(
@sohamghosh6166
8 ай бұрын
@@inkedhappiness 🥺 sad. I only have time on Sundays!
Good one. Go beyond the story and enable them to serve the world and grow through electronic commerce. I can help. Americans have lived ignorant lives since the 1990’s. Everything can be properly repaired by the right Nibmiesters in USA. THE PEOPLE HAVE TURNED IGNORANTS. I live here. I know.
Ebonite fountain pen 🖋 is available in pen hospital?
@inkedhappiness
6 ай бұрын
yes
@arindamnath468
6 ай бұрын
@inkedhappiness sir can you suggest which one of Ebonite or Acrylic pen for long lasting?
@inkedhappiness
6 ай бұрын
@@arindamnath468 most pens will last long if you take good care.
@arindamnath468
6 ай бұрын
@@inkedhappiness can you suggest from your experience which indian brand available on pen hospital and nib size
@inkedhappiness
6 ай бұрын
@@arindamnath468 difficult to say chief. i guess you should pay them a visit and see what is there at the moment :)
Sir, Do you have their contact number? I need to get my Lamy pen repaired
@inkedhappiness
11 ай бұрын
Md Imtiaz 9875371482
@RD42195
11 ай бұрын
@@inkedhappiness Thanks lot 😊
What is the contact number? I am a resident of Kanpur. I have several old fountain pens with me which need repair. I want to talk to the owner Imtiaz Bhai before coming to the shop.
@inkedhappiness
Ай бұрын
9875371482. md imtiaz :) may your pens write again :)
1st observation - the sepia tone is looking terrible. just because you are showing an old shop, you need not use sepia. it is, pardon me, downright stupid. i guess it is time you either chastate your videographer, or better still, change him / her. 2nd observation - there should have been subtitles in english. please remember all of us do not understand bengali. observation 3 - this video had been long overdue and we are thankful to you for doing this. i feel that despite the shortcomings, you are doing a great job and all credit should be showered on you. request one - please do another story on the pen hospital and show the antique and vintage pens that are available there so that we can feast our eyes.
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
will certainly do another story and try to show the pens. thank you for pointing out our flaws. we are indeed indebted to friends and critics like you :)
I have a Request Sir ,If Possible can You Please Stock and Sell Some Good Fountain Pen & Inks in Your Website...👍
@inkedhappiness
10 ай бұрын
aww chief, i am just a lover of fountain pens, my aim is to help brands establish the cult of pen and ink. i just dont have the expertise to sell anything :)
আমি কি অনলাইনে অর্ডার করতে পারি এখান থেকে? 😊
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
bodh hoi na :(
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
tao boli ki, ekbar kotha bole dekho. shodroloker naam md imtiaz: 9875371482
Nijei boke gelo half video te
@inkedhappiness
Жыл бұрын
:)