https://www.vogue.in/content/pen-hospital-in-kolkata-will-nurse-your-broken-fountain-pen-back-to-health Skip to main content Open Navigation Menu To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories Close Alert Vogue India Search * Fashion * Beauty * Culture * Shopping * Horoscope * Weddings * Video * Vogue Beauty Festival * Met Gala Open Navigation Menu To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories Close Alert Vogue India Culture & Living The Pen Hospital in Kolkata will nurse your broken fountain pen back to full health For 77 years, the Pen Hospital has been performing successful surgeries on fountain pens before discharging them back to their owners By Debabratee Dhar 29 May 2024 Pen hospital Kolkata fountain pens in India small businesses in India Photographed by Munjarita Mondal "You've not been taking proper care of your pen," Muhammad Imtiaz grumbles while treating his latest patient--and the victim of my negligence--a Gold Leaf Jinhao fountain pen. As much as I would like to claim that I purchased this pen in pursuit of finer calligraphy, the truth is that an attractive discount online made me snap it up. After two months of blotting through numerous notebooks and sporting ink-stained hands, I had severely damaged the ink socket. Not wanting to lay it to rest yet, I took my ailing pen to the only place in the city where I knew it could be nursed back to health--the Pen Hospital. Situated in the heart of central Kolkata and hidden amongst vintage bars, ramshackle buildings and the famous Metro cinema of Chowringhee, the 77-year-old Pen Hospital is a relic of the past. It was established in the late '50s by Imtiaz's grandfather, Muhammad Samsuddin, along with a few other technicians, all skilled in the mechanics of fountain pens. Image may contain Accessories Jewelry Ring Wristwatch Adult Person Art Painting Chef Head Face Bag and Handbag Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Image may contain Shelf Book Indoors Library Publication and Furniture Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * "I don't know who sold you this pen but they clearly did not mention how to care for it," says Imtiaz, cradling my pen in the palm of his hand. He looks up, a frown on his face. "Fountain pens are a labour of love. If you don't have the time to care for them, perhaps a roller pen would suit you better." I smile sheepishly at his barely disguised taunt. He shakes his head, then he goes on to explain how the excess ink in a fountain pen needs to be washed off with clean water at least once a week. In a flourish of movements, he shows me how to hold the nib with the appropriate amount of pressure against the paper to create a clear ink flow. He makes me practise on a notepad until he feels confident in my ability to hold the pen correctly. Then, the pen doctor writes me a prescription and charges a fee of only [?]50 for his consultation. Image may contain Shelf Accessories Glasses Wristwatch Adult Person Art Painting Jewelry Ring Pen and Book Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Image may contain Shelf Book Publication Accessories Bag Handbag Furniture Indoors Library Bookcase and Person Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * Image may contain Drawer and Furniture Photographed by Munjarita Mondal An establishment dedicated to fixing and selling fountain pens may sound anachronistic in an era that becomes more digital with each passing day. Besides, for those who need it, stationery can easily be brought for loose change. "For my customers, fountain pens are not just stationery," Imtiaz scoffs. "It is a personal belonging that they hold onto and pass down as heirlooms." He digs out a fountain pen from under his cabinet, neatly wrapped in white paper with its owner's initials written on it. "This is a vintage Waterman model that costs well over [?]20,000. The owner has trusted me to fix it," he says, the pride in his voice unmistakable. I peer over the glass cabinet and find box upon box of fountain pens neatly stacked in a row, each wrapped in a paper detailing their owner's name and address, waiting to be discharged. "In my grandfather's time, pen mechanisms were simple. One simply had to fix the nib or add a socket and make small changes to the body parts," explains Imtiaz. "Now it's more complex. We often have to contact the companies and ask them to send us branded parts to fix these pens". Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * Image may contain Urban Person City Art Painting Shop and Wristwatch Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Image may contain Accessories Jewelry Ring Pen Person Writing and Adult Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * Image may contain Accessories Jewelry Ring Person Writing Pen Adult and Wristwatch Photographed by Munjarita Mondal There was a time when fountain pens were ubiquitous writing instruments, used by everyone from businessmen and students to professors and shopkeepers. "In the past, people purchased fountain pens out of necessity," recalls Imtiaz. "That changed in the early '2000s when ball pens and roller pens took over the market. Eventually, all the big companies like Pilot, Caravan, Doctor, Artist and Wilson shut down their factories in India." If the Pen Hospital has managed to survive it is by the grace of a dedicated customer base. Image may contain Shelf Adult Person Wristwatch Art Painting Shop Accessories Bag Handbag Book and Publication Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * Image may contain Pen and Fountain Pen Photographed by Munjarita Mondal During the exam season and on occasions like Teacher's Day, the Pen Hospital receives a footfall of over ten to fifteen people. On slower days, Imtiaz and his nephew can be found at the shop front, fixing up clients' fountain pens while a table fan whirs tirelessly. The shelves are stacked with cartons of fountain pens, ink pots and cleaning equipment. At the Pen Hospital, there is a fountain pen with a customised nib for every purpose. Imtiaz shows me the writing style of fine, medium, broad, double board and flex nibbed fountain pens and points out which one is meant for calligraphy, stenography, sheet music, Devanagari script and Urdu script. I find myself drawn to a pen with an elegant, swan-like neck. He follows my gaze and announces, "This is the lady nib," named after the fact that the nibs are curved to fit into women's hands which are typically smaller. "Waterman first came out with these nibs back in the '30s," he continues. "Since then, Hero, Parker and a few other Korean and Japanese brands have come up with their own interpretations of the lady nib at a much cheaper price." Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * Image may contain Accessories Bag Handbag Clothing Footwear Shoe Person Pants Shorts Architecture and Building Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Image may contain Book Publication Indoors Library Shelf Furniture and Person Photographed by Munjarita Mondal Most Popular * Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more Culture & Living Latest OTT releases this week: 13 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and more By Prabal Sharma * The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year Fashion The It-girl-approved way to wear flip-flops with jeans this year By Paulina Berges * The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 Fashion The Adidas trainers that might just outsell sambas in 2024 By Emma Spedding * As I examine the lady nib, a middle-aged woman with short hair and a large office bag comes up to the shop front. "Imtiaz da," she beseeches, "can you please take a look at this fountain pen?" He welcomes her in, asking about a fountain pen he had recently fixed for her. Then he introduces her to me as Pritha Mukherjee, an employee at the nearby City Corporation building. "My father was a regular for the last 20 years," Mukherjee tells me. "I mostly come here because my son loves collecting fountain pens." Leaving us to our conversation, Imtiaz busies himself with what he calls the "tricky socket" of Mukherjee's clear fountain pen. At this point, I too decide to take my leave, dreading the 5pm office rush which will follow me from Chowringhee, all the way to the metro ride home. As I walk out, the pen doctor looks up from his work and calls out dutifully: "Wash the socket at least once a week." 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