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An exhibition of a rich variety of inkpots, pens, boxes used for holding these, and pen-stands in vogue in ancient times, which are a part of Shri Vasudevbhai’s exquisite collection, was inaugurated by the Honourable Vice Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, Dr Pravin J Patel, at 11.00 am in the University Museum on Monday, 20 December 2004.
Shri Vausdevbhai has a priceless treasure of more than 300 inkpots, pens, boxes used for holding these, and pen-stands in fashion in antiquity. Of these, 302 are on display in the University Museum. He worked zealously right from the time he joined as a Talati to the time when he retired from active service and even thereafter to add to his collection and ensure its preservation. There is a saying in Gujarati, “sutharnu man bavle” (ie a carpenter always has an eye on the woodland for wood). Much in the same way, “Vasudevbhainu man khadiye” (ie Vasudevbhai always has an eye for antique inkpots). That is why, he is well known by the loving name of “khadiya kaka”. He often observed antique inkpots and pens used by the older generations and developed taste for collecting these with money out of his own pocket, and very soon it became an obsession with him, in which his friends also became his partners.
What makes this collection rich is that it has inkpots of different makes, such as metal, clay, ceramic, wooden, horns, glass etc, and pens made out of wood, ivory, and bamboo shafts from antiquity down to modern times.
Pens such as Cello Point made in Japan, ballpoint pens from America, London etc, and the ink pens, which came to known as fountain pens in the 20th century and fell out of use when ballpoint pens became fashionable. Inkpots and pens were in vogue prior to the advent of the fountain pens, and the trend even before that was to use pens made of bamboo shafts. When a child was initiated to the learning of the writing and numericals, he/she was taught in vernacular that “k” is for “kalam” (pen), “kh” for “khadiyo” (inkpot) and this tradition has now been replaced by the learning of alphabet of any given language. The University Museum family has afforded to all art-loving fellow citizens the opportunity of visiting this exhibition to see for themselves inkpots and pens used hundreds of years ago. A Museum exists to promote the work of enthusiastic collectors such rare antique pieces and to help keep us in touch with our Indian civilisation that seems to be getting forgotten by helping disseminating knowledge and information related to it.
Presenting an overview of the history of inkpots, Dr Afroze Sultana and the art-collector Shri Vasudevbhai argued that with the beginning of language, our ancestors used a finger to write on sand spread on a rock. The practice of writing by sculpting a piece of rock was fashionable from 15th to 18th century. Ink-stands, which were known in England as Standish, were used to put Pen, ink and other material for writing purposes in. Inkpots were then usually made of silver, lead, and other metals. In 18th century, inkpots made of silver became modish. However, inkpots fell out of fashion thereafter.
The tradition of writing has been a part of Indian culture for centuries together. Our Vedas and Puranas were written nearly 2500 years ago on plantain leaves, palm leaves etc with the quills taken from birds of those times, bamboo shafts etc used as stylus in lieu of pens, and small wooden containers served as inkpots. Times changed and newer discoveries and inventions contributed to the improving of writing materials, which went on to become increasingly refined and sophisticated.
This exhibition has on display nearly 100 year-old nibs with “Baroda” inscribed on them. These were imported from Germany and England. One nib has “Bank of Baroda Limited” inscribed on it. These nibs were made of ivory, and were double-sided which were used to write in red or blue ink.
What is notable is that when there was an excess of ink on paper while writing, people used sand from a small container to spread over it to blot the excess ink so that the writing stood out clearly. A nativity chart (birth chart) made in Samvat 1728 (ie approximately 345 years ago) and a document penned in Samvat 1884 (ie approximately 294 years ago) with one such pen has been put on display in this exhibition.
In ancient times, when human beings lived in caves and writing was not known to them, they used to depict through paintings such subjects as their way of life, their day-to-day experiences, other things that they observed in nature etc on the walls of the caves in which they lived. For instance, there are many living examples of the same in India such as the one in “Bhimbetka” near Bhopal. One finds writings sculpted in stone on the Girnar Mountain. In ancient times, our Rishis used to write on the large leaves from certain trees with quills taken from birds, and the juices of certain flowers, leaves, and other vegetation for ink. Since juices were fluid, they used small containers made out of stone, conch shells, horns, and clay to hold these liquids to serve as ink. Gradually, with increase in research on pine wood, metals, ceramics, glass etc, these materials began to be put to use for making inkpots.
The glass inkpots were made using two different methods. These were either made of moulded glass or cut-glass. While the arc of the glass of the moulded variety was made by shaping it in a mould, those made of cut glass were imported from Belgium. These used a process whereby a sheet of glass was cut in various shapes to make inkpots which helps retain the sheen of the glass for years to come without allowing it to diminish.
A inkpot, which weigh 8 kgs, garnished with Rajasthani sculpture and decorative art, is the biggest of them all. There is this “Vishnu” inkpot made of white clay (Gopichand), which is normally used for the purpose of making a “tilak” has a sankh, gada, padma on it, which enables us to identify it as “Vishnu” inkpot.
On display also are nibs used for writing by dipping them in ink. One of these is half an inch long. Nibs made of iron, brass, and gold-plated ones were used. Shri Vasudevbhai’s treasured collection also includes nibs and boxes made of metals, cardboard etc which were used to put the writing material and inkpots in them in ancient times. There are on display pens made of wood, one of which has on it art work depicting our freedom struggle, another called “Jay Hind” which has a photograph of Subhash Chandra Bose on it, yet others with “Bank of Baroda Limited” and “Baroda State” inscribed on them.
Shri Vasudevbhai buys antique pieces for his treasured collection from the Shukravari Bazar in Baroda, Ravivari Bazar in Ahmedabad, and Chor Bazar in Surat. Moreover, there are some that have been gifted to him by his friends of their sweet accord. The collection has grown over the years, but the process of adding to the collection and preserving it continues even to this day.