THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ever thought of a hospital without blood less surgeries and casualties? Well, that is the specialty of a hospital in the capital where patients are not human beings but pens. The Pen hospital is the first of its kind in the state. Any pen from fountain pen or ball point pens to expensive branded pens can be treated and mended here. Pen Hospital, with a legacy of about 85 years was established by Arumughan, a goldsmith, near Ayurveda College Junction.
Back then, fountain pen was in vogue. The kind of pen used by a person also determined the social status and class. Pazhani, son of Arumughan, who was 10 when he joined his father, runs the business now. Veteran freedom fighter and journalist R.M. Manakalath first addressed Pazhani’s father as ‘Pen doctor’. “When the business became dull, my father decided to go to Chennai. R.M. Manakalath compelled my father to stay back and promised to bring customers to the shop,” said Mr Pazhani.
Later, Mr Pazhani modified the shop to Pen Hospital, “A place where a doctor consults is a hospital.” People from different strata of the society including government officials, politicians and students are among his customers. In the past 85 years, the hospital has repaired the pens of many renowned personalities including Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma, George Onakkor, A. Sampath MP, E.M.S. Nampoothiripad, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan and G. Karthikeyan. The latest addition to the list is K.S. Sabarinath, son of G. Karthikeyan .
Repairing Chithira Thirunal's favorite pen is one of the memories he cherishes. "It was a Cartier ever sharp seven point pen,” he recalled. Mount Blanc and Cartier are two of the most expensive brands treated in the hospital. Brands like Waterman, Sheaffer, Parker are also among the premium brands that got cured here. 63-year-old Pazhani loves to share his stories from the bygone era with youngsters who come to him for getting their favorite pens repaired.
“Nowadays only people who know about fountain pens use them. Most of the young people are curious to know about the reason behind the shop’s name. Also the fact that pens priced at lakhs of rupees are available in the market leaves them bewildered,” he added. The pen hospital does not have a proper building. In 2011, the shop at Ayurveda College collapsed. Mr Pazhani alleged that the building was demolished by its owner. “Pens worth lakhs of rupees, rare and elite clocks and watches were at the store when the building collapsed," he said. Now, the consultation cum repair is carried out at his Manacaud home.
