Pens Write Against the Digital Tide at IKBF 2025.

🖊️Roopsa Ganguly

The 48th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) has once again transformed Central Park into a literary paradise. With over 1,056 stalls, the fair is a testament to the undying love for books. But amidst the ocean of literature, a silent yet powerful presence demands attention—pens. In an era where words appear on screens with a single keystroke, the presence of pens at the fair is a reminder that before a book is bound, it first flows from the tip of a pen.

 

"Without a pen, how will a book be written?"—a question that seems to linger in the air at the fairgrounds, making its way into conversations, between the pages of freshly printed books, and into the hands of those who understand the true essence of writing. Pens are not mere tools; they are an extension of thought, an embodiment of creativity, and at times, an artist’s closest confidant.

 

If books are the heart of the fair, pens are its pulse. Nestled among the sprawling bookstalls, brands like Pentonic, Linc Pens, and the legendary Sulekha have set up their own literary sanctuaries. These are not just sales counters; they are spaces of nostalgia, passion, and craftsmanship. Visitors are not merely purchasing pens; they are choosing their weapons of expression, their companions for the written word.

Sulekha, a brand that has inked generations of Bengali writers, has created a special buzz this year. Their tagline—"Su lekha manei Sulekha", which translates to "To write well, you need Sulekha", resonates deeply with visitors who grew up scribbling with their fountain pens. There is an almost poetic beauty in watching a father pick up a bottle of Sulekha ink, his fingers tracing the familiar label, while his child flips through a newly bought storybook. It is a quiet passing of legacy, from one generation to the next, a reaffirmation that while technology may evolve, the romance of ink on paper never fades.

 

For some, pens are a collector’s delight. A visitor at the fair, with a glint of obsession in his eyes, shares, "Right from childhood, I was obsessed with pens and owned almost 200 at a time. Just like books, whoever truly loves pens will never care about how high its cost is. Collecting pens is a passion." His words hang in the air like an unspoken truth—pens are more than writing instruments; they are treasures, relics of a time when the stroke of a nib could define revolutions and rewrite histories.

 

In an age where screens dominate, the resurgence of high-quality pens is nothing short of a literary rebellion. The fairgrounds echo with the scratch of a fountain pen against paper, a sound that feels like poetry itself. Pentonic, with its sleek and modern designs, has drawn a crowd of young professionals looking for a smooth writing experience. Linc Pens, a household favorite, continues to cater to students and working professionals alike, offering reliability in every stroke. Yet, it is the old-world charm of Sulekha that tugs at the heartstrings of those who still believe in the magic of ink. There is something about uncapping a fountain pen, dipping it into an inkwell, and watching the first stroke form on paper—a moment of creation that no digital device can replicate.

 

The International Kolkata Book Fair has always been a festival of stories, a celebration of the written word. But this year, it has also become a tribute to the instrument that makes it all possible. A book may be bound, printed, and published, but before it becomes a story for the world, it exists first as ink on paper—raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal.

 

As visitors leave the fair, their bags filled with books, many will also carry a pen—perhaps unknowingly, perhaps intentionally. But one thing is certain: within that small, unassuming object lies the power to create worlds, to immortalize emotions, and to script the future. And that, more than anything, is the true magic of the International Kolkata Book Fair.