Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s iconic Dandi March in 1930 to protest against the British salt tax has inspired pen-makers Mont Blanc to come out with a limited-series pen on the Father of the Nation.
The high-end pen is priced around Rs.14 lakh, according to a watch retailer.
The pen comes with a gold wire entwined by hand around the middle, which “evokes the roughly wound yarn on the spindle with which Gandhi spun everyday.”
Inspired by the “241 mile” march, the white gold pen, of which only 241 pieces will be available worldwide, boasts of a hand-crafted rhodium plated 18-carat gold nib depicting Gandhiji holding his trademark lathi — all in gold.
There is also the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition 3000’ pen available, both as a fountain pen and a roller ball. Three thousand piece each will be available worldwide.
The pen which is available for about Rs.1.7 lakh (fountain pen) and Rs.1.5 lakh (roller ball) comes with sterling silver mountings on the cap and the cone. The nib is identical to its elite counterpart, the only difference being that in this pen, the engraved image of Gandhiji holding his lathi is in the same colour as the nib.
Keywords: Mahatma, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Father of the Nation, Dandi March, Gandhiji, Mont Blanc, pen
Comments:
When James Otis sold his personal collection, Mr Tushar Gandhi remarked, "An auction is an innovative way of promoting Gandhian thought, isn't it, especially because the rest of us know an auction as a way to make money!" He described as "reprehensible" that such items of national importance had landed in the possession of Otis. "The greatest danger is not that Otis holds Bapu's possessions but in the way the Indian Government and the Navajivan Trust are playing into his hands," he cautioned. (March 19, 2009).
Now because he was presented with a 241 Mont Blanc he says "Today when we are traumatized by violence, this tribute reaffirms our faith in truth and non-violence. US President Barack Obama should get one of the pens and sign peace treaties across the world. This will bring peace to the world traumatized by not only violence of gun but violence against human beings and nature also.'' So Gandhi became a brand ambassador of the Mont Blanc.
This is totally against the ideals of Gandhi, a pen costing 14 lakhs. When the Mahatma preached and praticsed simplicity...
Atrocious !! After all Gandhi stood for simplicity, unless the proceeds go to Gandhi Foundation.
Irony! The icon of modesty and simplicity used to market a symbol of luxury and extravagance.
What an irony that Mahatma who was the epitome of austerity is being honoured lavishly by releasing a fountain pen costing lakhs of rupees! A Gujarati poet sang years ago lamenting on the pushpanjali at Rajghat: Gandhi never slept beneath such a mountain of flowers in his life. Whether the Mahatma lives or not Long live 'Mont Blanc.'
This is crass commercialism. Gandhi always identified himself with the poorest of the poor and led an austere life. Turning his Dandi March and his simple spindle into a multi-crore business is a great insult to the Mahatma.
How ironical? A 14-Lakh pen named after a man that pursued and became an example for frugality & humility. Getting it released by his grandson is the pits...
Ghandhiji always served the needs of the poor and needy. This is the most stupid thing being promoted by his grandson. It is not in line with Ghandhiji's principles.
The Mahatma has become a commodity to be auctioned in bits and pieces by his descendants... what next? Mahatma goggles??
A 14-lakh pen to honour the Father of the Nation? What a wonderful way to degrade everything that the man symbolised, and to mock a nation of middle-class and individuals below the poverty line who look up to him.
Shame on Tushar Gandhi for backing a blatant attempt to commercialise the Gandhi legacy and shame on anyone who buys this so-called tribute to Gandhi; for it demonstrates how little they have imbibed the Gandhian ideals of humility and austerity,let alone understood Gandhiji.
This pen stands at the opposite pole of all ideals that the Mahatma stood for!
This article should be titled,
"The Irony of Ideology"
Authored by Capitalism.
It is really sad to note that the Mahatma's name, which symbolised simplicity as greatness to the whole world is being misused by business barons to make money.
A man who threw even his shirt away for simplicity ,Mahatma would have cried if he knew this.
This is perfectly in line with Gandhi's life - his annual retreats in Shimla, Panchgani, his special diet of fruits, mountain honey and nuts, a battery of doctors to attend on him when he was in 'prison', accompanied by an entire entourage to 'serve' him in prison - all this of course in his signature loin cloth - Mont Blanc's pen costing 14 lakh rupees per piece, is compeletely in line with the Gandhi few knew about. And then in line with the loin cloth they also have the cheaper version pen. Perfect.
Instead of berating everyone in sight, we should respect an individual's views and if we feel so strongly about "commercialisation of the mahatma's memorabilia " don't purchase the pen, a fitting answer to those looking to encash by distorting Gandhiji's principles .
The title is paradoxical. This would have been the last thing Gandhi would want to see.
Well, we don't mind having Mahatma's picture on the currency notes in our pockets but cry foul over Mont Blanc coming out with a pen honouring him. I feel proud and happy that our Mahatma is being honoured in one more way.
Better things a corporate could have done to honour M Gandhi.
As part of the proceeds are going to the Gandhi foundation, this product is not only bringing joy to the people who buy it, but will also do good to people who are supported by the Gandhi foundation.
It is sad that the Mahatma's name and image are being appropriated in this manner for crass commercial purposes. It amounts to dishonouring all that he stood for.
Now I see why the pen is mightier than the sword.
Why to compare an initiative to honour Gandhiji with principles and ideologies? It is Mont Blanc's way of honouring the Mahatma. We should respect any initiative that honours him.
The intent behind the idea appears to be true to me. I think if business was the motive, the choice would have been a Shahrukh Khan or a Sachin Tendulkar. We should not expect a pen with pieces of gold or silver in it to be very cheap. Actually I am cross: why they are not coming out with a diamond-studded pen honouring our Mahatma.
Perhaps I would welcome this sort of stuff. 1. Those pens are handcrafted. I would imagine a good number of handicraft people would have been employed, in this kind of market situation (May be paid well). 2. It is an elegant way of Gandhiji being remembered by the elite. There are thousands of items distributed, right from one rupee currency, in the name of Gandhiji, throughout the world.
Somebody's getting rich. Is any of this for a good cause?
This is ridiculous! The Mahatma is a symbol of simplicity. Exploiting his name and what he stood for is an example of how low people have stooped to sell products. We should not allow Mont Blanc to sell the pen in India.
First I give credit to The Hindu as it is one of the few papers who has taken up this issue. With growing consumerism in India we are slowing forgetting what is ok & what is not for companies to resort to as a marketing strategy. When have we given the right to anyone, & especially non - indian compaines to use the Father of our Nation as a Brand ambassador? If the company really had an intention of pure charity & nothing more they wouldn't have used Gandhi to help increase their sales. And how as Indians are we taking this quietly? I request The Hindu to take this up more stongly & make sure these Ads are immediately removed & an apology given to our nation.
It is a good way of making world know about Mahatma who needs no showcase but to those small number who still does not know much of him.. But still this is against his ideals unless some part, if not all, goes for some good cause it will be truly Gandhian way.