The Swadeshi Pen

The Swadeshi Pen

Ratnam Pens, which were known as ‘swadeshi' pens during the freedom ovement, brought fame to Rajahmundry and the pen-maker, K.V. Ratnam. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, S. Kasturiranga Iyanger of The Hindu, Indira Gandhi, V.V. Giri, Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express, and Archibald Nye, Governor of Madras, were known to have used them.

When Gandhiji gave a call to boycott foreign goods, Ratnam was involved in making lithographic blocks, methim, in 1921. Gandhiji advised him to make something that would be utilitarian and affordable to the common man.

Ratnam made a pen in Ebonite and sent it to Gandhiji. The Mahatma wrote to him on July 16, 1935from Wardha: “Dear Ratnam, I must thank you for the fountain pen you sent me… I have needed it and [it] seems to be a good substitute to the foreign pen, once in the bazaar. Yours sincerely, M.K. Gandhi, 16.7.1935.”

When Congress leaders met in Kakinada in 1937, Nehru travelled to Rajahmundry to see Nyapathi Subba Rao Pantulu, one of the founders of The Hindu. Together they went to Ratnam Pens and bought a pen each.

‘Ratnam Pens' thus gained popularity across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and even elsewhere in the country and the world.

A small, traditional house on Fort gate Street serves as the workshop today. Popularly known as the ‘Kotagummam' of Rajahmundry, the house has a sign board: “Pioneers of Pen Industry in India since 1932, K.V. Ratnam & Sons, Ratnam Ball Pen Works, Mfrs: Swadeshi ‘Ratnamson' pens, 14 CT-Gold Nibs.”

Mr. Murthy says each pen took two days to make.

Mr Siva Ratnam, the present owner, is a wonderful man. He sent me these two pens by post, so beautifully packed, that the eagerness to see the pens made me open it! I am so proud to hold this piece of our history!