NEW DELHI, Jan. 17 -- Fountain pens are perceived to be collectors' items, with shades of nostalgia. They have been ousted by ball pens and gel pens, as well as technology that has rendered redundant the art of writing by hand. Alternatively, fountain pens cross the fuzzy line and become items of jewellery. So runs the perception. Yet, in the market for writing instruments, fountain pens still retain a 10% market share.
Among that market share, where are Indian fountain pens and brands? In the world of Mont Blanc, Parker, Cross, Pelikan, Sheaffer, Waterman, Sailor, Aurora, Lamy and Pilot, where is the Indian version of Scrikss (Turkey), TWSBI (Taiwan) or Jinhao (China)? Note that unlike India, Turkey and Taiwan are relatively recent entran...