Prof K C Janardhan talks his heart out - debunks myths, charts the course ahead
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- čas přidán 19. 04. 2024
- Prof K C Janardhan is known as the Maestro - such is the regard with which his skills as a calligrapher are held around the world. From America to New Zealand, he has been there, done it all - writing his way to stardom. On the way, he has created his unique course - the Seven Elements of Handwriting, which he has been successfully teaching - and has been the most high-profile and vocal votary for handwriting, lettering, and calligraphy.
However, it has not been an easy task. When he started in the late 1980’s forget about knowledge about calligraphy, the basic implements - the tools of the trade as it were, were hard to come by. The fountain pen was gasping for breath unable to withstand the onslaught of the ballpoint pens and ink manufacturers were being forced to down shutters. Computers were becoming ubiquitous and slowly the very act of writing with one’s hand was steadily walking toward obsolescence.
But Prof Janardhan was undeterred - he wrote his magnum opus - a book on handwriting, did the round of corporate addresses seeking support for the cause, and met almost all the manufacturers of pen and ink to convince them to create implements that were needed. He did not succeed initially and the experience of those early days would have broken the resolve of any ordinary man. But Prof Janardhan is made of different mettle - he continued regardless. And oh! In the meantime, he built the one-of-a-kind Museum on writers, writing, and writing instruments in Bangalore!
The seeds that Prof Janardhan had planted (and continued to nourish diligently) are germinating only now. Several Indian manufacturers have started offering a variety of pens, paper, and ink. People are paying heed to what he has been yelling from the rooftops. “Well begun is half done,” he says, “the rest of the journey, towards perfection, has to be undertaken now.”
“However, the most heartening thing is the number of youngsters who are joining the fraternity and picking up the pen and inks - to communicate, to play with, to pour their creative urges, and to express themselves. I am hugely optimistic!” Fountain pens and inks, he pointed out, are not only the most sustainable writing option, but their regular use helps guard against a number of issues - physical (like finger fatigue and arthritis) to psychosomatic. All this in addition to writing being a proven vehicle for better mind-body coordination and retention of knowledge. Prof Janardhan, it will not be out of place to mention here, has been working for many years now to use handwriting as a tool to fight falling self-worth among young adults.
We had taken a small break from the Chennai Pen Show to shoot this video and it was a pleasure hearing the master articulate his views - from the joy of writing, the art of writing in different styles (Cursive, italics, Gregorian, Spencerian), the state of the Indian fountain pen, paper, and ink manufacturing industry and what they need to do to scale up to address the latent and emerging demand, not to mention advice for the young exponents.
Prof K C Janardhan has long been the only (and lonely) voice in the woods about writing. Is he content, ready to rest his pens, now that what he has been screaming about for decades bearing fruits? Not quite. He is planning to contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections to raise the issues in front of a bigger audience, from platforms that are built for such discussions.
Watch this space.
Always a pleasure to hear Prof K C Janardhan, and be reminded of his interest in fountain pens and calligraphy after the challenge of reading business students' papers. It is amazing to hear of the efforts to revive the industry and to show young people the importance of clear writing. I appreciate good lettering as an art, but good calligraphy is amazing. Have a good summer.
Absolutely wonderful. Keep on. I do the same in USA
A very compelling interview. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been longer. I think it’s wonderful that people like Prof. Janardhan are making efforts to keep the art of writing by hand alive. When people can type on a keyboard or on their devices screen it is no more personally expressive than a chicken pecking at a seed. There is nothing more glorious than reading the words of a person who wrote the words themselves with their own hand.
Writing on paper with a pen and ink has stood the test of time. There is no other method that has been proven over thousands of years, that can be as portable and as permanent as writing or drawing on paper. I doubt that any electronic means will ever surpass the permanence of pen and paper.
Wonderful presentation! Thank you Chawm and Professor Janardhan!
Thank you too!
Excellent information ❤
thank you :)
Excellent interview by Chawm sir with Janardhan Sir.
Actually the matter is that awareness about fountain pens benifits including environment friendlyness, availability of resources, supply chains are the main issues to promote fountain pens.
thank you for your kind words :)
Very True fountain pens are in fact the best writing instrument ever made
Nice 👌
Keep it up 👍
Thanks 😊
Sir can you suggest any “Indian” hooded nib fountain pen (like parker 51 or jinhao 86).
Please let me know if you can help.
Thanks a lot
I have one that was made by ASA, ebonite with a 3-1 one filling system. it is on the bigger / girthier side though. very nice pen :)
@@inkedhappiness thank you so much sir. Unfortunately I am unable to place orders on ASA site. It shows “stock out”. I don’t know if I am doing any mistake or so.
Anyways, thanks a lot sir for prompt reply.
You are doing wonderful work for fountain pen lovers. Keep it up 👍 lots of love and good wishes.
Hi sir, I am a student of 12th class right now and I have been using fountain pens of various brands such as lamy ,parker, hero, twsbi , etc. now am looking for a long-lasting fountain pen with a durable body and nib. I have a budget of 500 rupees and I am confused in between click aristocrat and parker vector, please suggest me a good pen in terms of durability and which can write on papers with 50 gsm without feathering and other bleeding issues. thanks for your time sir...
click is indian and i will obviously root for it. but the 50 gsm paper that you write about scares me. bleeding may be a constant issue that may irk you :(