I spend most of my working life in the digital world.
As a cybersecurity consultant, my days are built around systems, networks, threats, screens, alerts and invisible layers of protection. It is a world of speed, logic and constant change. Maybe that is why, outside work, I find myself drawn so deeply to something slower, more tactile and far more personal… Fountain pens.
I often joke that I am a cybersecurity professional by profession and a fountain pen enthusiast by obsession. In an age of keyboards, touchscreens and voice notes, I still get excited about nibs, inks, filling systems and the simple joy of writing something by hand.
My fascination with writing instruments began long before I truly discovered fountain pens. As a child, I was drawn to pens, pencils, crayons, sketch pens and all kinds of colors. Anything that left a mark on paper interested me. During my school years, I was especially fond of Pilot V5 pens. My father worked in a bank, and he would often receive them as gifts. Naturally, I would happily claim my share.
My first fountain pen came when I was in the fourth standard. It cost five rupees. I still remember it clearly, not because it was a great pen, but because it was not. It ran out of ink quickly and did not write particularly well. I was quite disappointed. But perhaps that was still the beginning of something.
From the fifth standard onward, fountain pens became mandatory in school, and that is when the hobby truly took root. I would gather loose change from around the house and spend it on whatever pens I could find on my way back from school. Over the next few years, my collection kept growing. By the time I reached the tenth standard, I had collected more than 800 pens. Fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints and, of course, plenty of Pilot V5s.
What started as childhood curiosity slowly became a lifelong fascination.
Today, as a collector, I find myself chasing anything that feels different. Sometimes it is the material. Resin, ebonite, metal, acrylic, anything with character. Sometimes it is the filling system. Cartridge converters, eyedroppers, vacuum fillers, Japanese style eyedroppers, piston fillers. Basically, if a pen holds ink in a way that makes me pause and think, I want to understand it.
And then there are nibs…
Because clearly, one manufacturer is never enough.
I have a special weakness for vintage Indian ebonites, especially pens from Ratnam and Gama, along with newer Indian makers such as Ranga, ASA, Vazir and A&Co. That early love for Pilot V5s eventually turned me into a full-blown Pilot fanboy, and I proudly accept that label.
Someday, when my wallet evolves, I do plan to own limited editions from Montblanc or Sailor. For now, they remain in the category of pens I admire from a safe distance.
More than the pens themselves, I love the stories they carry. A Ratnam pen, for example, is not just a writing instrument. It is connected to India’s freedom movement. It represents self-reliance, quiet resistance and Indian craftsmanship. Writing with one feels like holding a piece of that history.
On the other end, brands like Montblanc represent legacy and luxury. Japanese pens reflect discipline, precision and respect for craft, where even the smallest detail matters. Every pen brings with it a philosophy. When I choose a pen, I am not just choosing something to write with. I am choosing a story.
That is what makes fountain pens so special to me.
Once a pen is inked, used and lived with, it stops being just an object. It becomes a companion. It remembers your handwriting, your mood, your thoughts, your pauses. It carries not only ink, but memory.
I also enjoy tuning and tinkering with nibs so that pens write the way they should. Every pen deserves a little personality adjustment now and then. There is something deeply satisfying about making a nib feel just right. Maybe that also explains why I enjoy bikes and gadgets. I have always appreciated mechanical engineering, precision and things that make satisfying noises.
The best part of this hobby, however, is not only the pens. It is the people.
Pune has one of the finest pen communities in the country. It has everyday users, serious collectors, curious beginners and people who have clearly embraced their destiny. Stores like The Ink and Pen have become more than retail spaces. They are community hubs where events, exhibitions, festival specials and casual meetups bring enthusiasts together.
I am part of a group called the Elite Pen Family, which has nearly 100 members. Daily life in the group often revolves around what someone wrote that day, which pen was filled, which one was cleaned, and which ink caused the latest “ink-sident”. We exchange advice, discuss maintenance, share writing samples, buy, sell, swap and generally enable each other with great enthusiasm.
There is also a smaller group called the Inkwell Circle, which meets once a month and enjoys fountain pens with the pure joy of a toddler let loose in a candy store.
That is the beauty of this community. A fountain pen can start a conversation almost instantly. Someone brings a new pen. Someone else brings a vintage one. A nib is tested. An ink is admired. A paper is recommended. A story is shared. Slowly, strangers become familiar faces, and familiar faces become friends.
I have also noticed younger children showing interest in fountain pens, though that interest needs to be nurtured. Sometimes it begins by watching a parent or family member use one. Sometimes it starts with simple curiosity. Schools also play a very important role. When we were growing up, fountain pens were mandatory in many schools, which helped the hobby develop naturally.
Today, many schools discourage or even ban fountain pens because they are considered messy. Last year, I gifted my niece a fountain pen, and she told me that if her teacher saw her using it, it would be confiscated. That stayed with me.
Once a child’s interest is sparked, the variety of this hobby can keep it alive. Pens, nibs, colours, inks and paper all create excitement. I personally know several children who come to me for advice, and I try to encourage them whenever possible. I like gifting children a fountain pen, an ink bottle and a writing pad. Not necessarily for schoolwork. Not for marks. Just to write something.
Because that is what fountain pens do for me… They make me slow down.
In a fast digital world, writing with a fountain pen makes me more present and intentional. It turns everyday writing into a mindful act. A small note, a list, a thought, a line written just for oneself, all of it feels different when written by hand.
Of course, the pen collecting community does face challenges. Access is one of them. Awareness is another. Younger audiences are less exposed to fountain pens now. There are fewer physical spaces where people can try pens before buying them. Imported pens often become expensive because of customs duties. And then there is the larger question of whether people see pen collecting as a legitimate hobby.
Collectors often hear, “Why do you need so many pens when you can write with only one?”
My usual answer is, “Why do you need an entire wardrobe when you only wear one outfit at a time?”
A hobby does not always have to justify itself through utility. Sometimes it exists because it gives joy, meaning and identity.
Looking ahead, I would love to see more open events, workshops and beginner friendly meetups. I would like more people to experience fountain pens without feeling pressured to spend heavily or become serious collectors immediately. Greater collaboration between schools, local stores and Indian manufacturers could help younger audiences discover the joy of writing by hand.
Most importantly, I hope the community continues to grow in a way that values writing as much as collecting. If we keep the hobby approachable, inclusive and rooted in shared experiences rather than exclusivity, it can continue to thrive for many years.
In recent times, one young boutique brand I have found myself increasingly drawn to is A&Co from Pune.
I was first introduced to the brand, and to the man behind it, whom I fondly call Nasir Bhai, during one of my usual visits to The Ink and Pen store. He walked in carrying a collection of pens, some of which were absolute one offs because the materials used were available only in limited quantities. Naturally, resisting temptation was never really an option, and I immediately picked up one of them.
What began as a casual interaction soon turned into regular conversations about pens, materials, craftsmanship and the hobby in general. Over time, Nasir Bhai also became part of our Elite Pen Family, which meant we began meeting more often through community gatherings and discussions.
What I genuinely appreciate about him is the passion and thought he brings to his creations. Not just from a maker’s perspective, but as someone who truly understands collectors and enthusiasts.
A&Co pens stand out because of their unique designs and choice of materials, many of which I personally have not encountered elsewhere in the Indian market. Their work reflects experimentation without losing elegance. I also find their hand painted pens inspired by various deities especially striking. Each one carries a strong artistic and cultural identity while still remaining highly usable as a writing instrument.
The fact that many of these pens are customizable adds a personal touch that collectors deeply value.
In my opinion, A&Co has successfully carved out its own niche within the Indian pen landscape by offering what I would call affordable luxury. Pens that feel special, artistic and thoughtfully made without becoming inaccessible to enthusiasts.
And perhaps that is why this hobby continues to mean so much to me.
Fountain pens are not only about collecting. They are about slowing down. They are about stories. They are about people. They are about memory. They are about finding beauty in something as simple and powerful as writing.
For me, every fountain pen carries ink.
But the good ones carry something more.
They carry history.
They carry meaning.
And sometimes, they carry us back to ourselves.
About the Author: Rohit Joshi is a cybersecurity consultant by profession and a fountain pen enthusiast by obsession, based in Pune.
‘When I am not securing systems in the digital world, I am usually exploring nibs, inks, vintage Indian ebonites, gadgets, bikes, and the simple joy of writing by hand.’ – Rohit Joshi