![]() If you have any influence with your friends, popularize the use of the reed-pen among them.” If I was a teacher and had my way, I would forbid the bringing of a fountain-pen into the classroom. How can all the children in the country afford to use fountain-pens? I suppose you know how much a fountain-pen costs. Anybody who wishes to improve his handwriting should use a reed-pen. 50.” On 14 July 1947, he wrote a letter to a child: “You should give up your fondness for writing with a pencil or fountain-pen. So, I shall not, and I should not tolerate the fountain-pen in your case.” On 28 April 1947, there was his “Advice to Students”: “For example, (1) when you get up in the morning you can roll up your own bedding (2) help in preparing your breakfast and milk, etc., whatever you take, without waiting for your mother or anyone else to prepare it and serve you (3) give a helping hand in sweeping and scrubbing (4) do your own laundering (5) help your mother with the cooking and cleaning the dishes (6) make your own cloth by spinning regularly every day (7) keep your books clean and neatly arranged, economize on exercise books as much as possible (8) learn to do with a pen-holder and ink costing two annas, instead of a fountain-pen costing Rs. You are not a scribe and are not going to be one. I tolerate Mahadev’s fountain-pen because Mahadev is a scribe. That can only come when you and I use these things.” In October 1938, he wrote to Lilavati Asar, “And do not follow Mahadev’s example of writing with a fountain-pen. The village pen and ink undoubtedly admit of improvement. That the fountain-pen saves time is not an unmixed blessing. That the pen requires constant dipping is a good point. The reed-pen is the best for writing Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu and other Indian scripts.” On, he wrote to Mirabehn, “It is well if you do without the fountain pen.” On 17 April 1937, he wrote to Amrit Kaur, “If we are to re-introduce village articles after being used to the Western style, we shall have to be patient and inventive. Why should anybody be in such hurry? For students at any rate, it is certainly a harmful thing to use. Really speaking, nobody in the Ashram should need a fountain pen. On 20 March 1932, he wrote to Parasram Mehrotra, “There is not the slightest need for the girls to use a fountain pen. This comes across clearly in his letters. Mahatma Gandhi did not like fountain pens he preferred reed pens, those in use before the advent of fountain pens. Indeed, there is an element of incongruity in linking Gandhiji’s name with fountain pens, whether they are cheap or luxuriously priced. Yet, it is not only because of their price that Mont Blanc’s Gandhi pens were not welcomed by many. The reason was obvious: Eternal Gandhi fountain pens are not frightfully expensive. Indeed, some years earlier, there was no comparable controversy when the Aditya Birla group started to sell ‘Eternal Gandhi’ products, including fountain pens. Equally important, the public did not think it appropriate to link the name of Gandhiji-a universal symbol himself of simple living-with pens that cost several lakhs of rupees. Mont Blanc’s decision to manufacture these pens provoked massive controversy: to begin with, it violated the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950, which restricts use of the name or pictorial representation of Mahatma Gandhi. Both kinds had an image of Mahatma Gandhi on the nib. There were two limited editions in fact, one in silver and the other in gold, a ‘Limited Edition 3000’ (i.e., 3,000 of it were manufactured) and a Limited Edition 241 (‘241’ for the 241 miles of the Salt March 241 pieces of it were made). Many would recall that not too long ago, a controversy erupted over Mont Blanc’s limited-edition “Gandhi pens” and a case was filed before the Kerala High Court. Some of the most expensive fountain pens in the world include Mont Blanc, Caran d’Ache, and Aurora. Limited-edition fountain pens are luxury items, much like jewellery. Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |