MY PENS

From Sampath’s Desk:

MY PENS

(Proper use of Pen Paves the Perfect and Prosperous life Path)

 

Pen is not just a tool of writing but has behind it epoch-making historical events and episodes of far-reaching consequences in the social, educational, political, and economic realms the human history is replete with. The pen itself had undergone myriad changes over time in shape, content and the ink used therein, before assuming the types and shapes that they are today! Needless to say, a pen is sharper and mightier than even a sword. Pen is also the tongue of the mind. It had triggered many a revolution, transformation, transmutation, and renaissance that brought about sea-changes in all walks of human life.

 

Some pens are sentimentally attached to their owners. Some have stolen our hearts with their smooth writing. I could never resist accepting any type of pen(s) as gift from any quarters notwithstanding the collection I already had. I would never like to lose a pen that augured well and brought good times and things for me. And whenever I lost any good omen pieces I used to feel sad for days before I could come to terms with the loss.

 

Pen has always been one of my most trusted companions. No matter whether it is cheap or costly variety, bought by myself or gifted by others, some of my defunct pens are still available with me as part of my archives, each piece reminding me of a person, event, or real story behind - and occasion(s) it was associated with. Ironically, I had no rhyme or reason to explain my attachment to some pens, whatever their type, brand, shape or cost. I would not share any of them with others as they were of high sentimental value to me for no explicable reasons. I would rather purchase and present new pens to my relatives and/or friends if it came to that. 

 

I specifically remember an incident when I was a schoolboy. I was gifted by one of my close relatives a fountain-pen that was so beautiful - predominantly silver in colour peppered with pretty good small blue circles and dots aesthetically arrayed to offer a visual treat (blue being my favourite colour). With that pen in my hand or shirt pocket, I moved here and there flauntingly, showing it with pride to my peers and friends that redoubled my joy. Like any other boy of that age, I took pride in possessing that pen. But the euphoria was only short-lived as I lost that pen one day, much to my disappointment and dismay. It gave me an emotional shock. The glittery pen started haunting my mind through day and night. I couldn’t reconcile myself to the loss of that beautiful pen. I cursed myself for my supine indifference, negligence and carelessness due to which I lost that pen – a rare and once-in-a-blue-moon piece for a young boy that I was then. Coming to know of the loss of my pen, some naughty friends ridiculed and made fun of me. Hapless, I didn’t make a protest or any other response much less a whisper but was just put up with the ignominy in deep and loud silence. Never in my dream, I could nurse any hope of regaining or recovering that lost personable pretty pen. Somehow reconciling to the fate that befell me, I almost forgot the pen with great difficulty. While so, a pleasant shock was on the wait for me. After a few days, to my pleasant surprise and delight, I saw the very same pen on display in the ‘lost items show-case’ of my school. When after proving my ownership I regained my treasured pen, my joy found no bounds. It was a lost paradise regained for me! That pen remained part of my collection of old things for a very long time!

 

I always had an intense fad and craze to keep in my possession pens especially those with which I wrote examinations and came out with flying colours and churned out documents of high value.

          

I have always wondered how a pen, a small thing though, excited me to work with. I do hope others too might have had their own quota of experiences with their buddy-buddy.

 

The traditional pens have now transformed into many forms – ball-point pens, gel pens, soft/cotton-tipped pens, sketch pens, and marker pens - to mention some. Pens continue to do their magic and have a sway over people.

 

Now, some food for thought - “We used a pencil when we were small children but now we use pens. Why? Because mistakes in childhood can be erased but not now…”  And write your plans in pencil and give to God the pen.

 

Some would casually or seriously say, “Since I have the bad habit of losing my pens too often I go in for varieties that are cheaper yet writing smoothly.” Yes, I also always thought of like that, and fully agree with and subscribe to that point of view.

   

(R.SAMPATH)