Going back to the future to save nature
In the course of writing, I tend to use a large number of pens. Contrary to prevalent practices, I still prefer to scribble with the pen, rather than dabble on the keyboard of my laptop, for the simple reason that the speed of my thoughts far exceeds the speed of my fingers at typing. My hand performs the arduous task of matching up with my thoughts … well, it tries its best!
Clearing up the clutter in my drawer one day made me realise that I had a large number of pens whose refills had finished, so I told my peon to go to the stationery shop nearby and get me new refills. He came back grinning from ear to ear. I asked, “Did you get them done?” “No, the shopkeeper asked me, ‘kis zamaanae mein rehte ho?’ There are no refills now. He told me to just toss the pens into the dustbin and buy new ones. Anyway they cost ₹10 only,” he said. “Really,” I frowned. “Then why are they still called refills, if they can’t be refilled?”
This is one of the commodities of the use and throw category that we have gotten used to, without so much as batting an eyelid to consider the extent of pollution being caused by it. Pause for a moment, to look back to the time when we were school kids and were allowed to use only and only fountain pens. Not only were they easier on our parents’ pockets, they helped us develop neater handwriting; they were kinder to the planet too, causing much lesser garbage and resultant pollution.
Any work done with a ballpoint-pen had to be re-done. The teachers would refuse to accept it. What happened to those rules? How callous have we become as a race? I remember when I was in Class 5, our class teacher told us all to contribute 50 paise each to buy a large bottle of ink. There were 48 girls in the class. A king size bottle of ink called Chelpark was bought with much change to spare! All the girls were instructed to bring their pens filled with ink from home. The ink bottle was meant to be a fall back option in case anyone’s pen went dry. There were some queer instances where some girls would fill up their pens every day from the class bottle. They were labelled ‘kanjoos (misers)’.
As I remember all this, I can’t help but laugh at that childishness and name calling. Today it sounds nothing short of hilarious; back then it was a grave crime and much frowned upon. But, come to think of it, our generation knew how to conserve. With the advancement and innovation in consumer goods, it is a done thing to use disposable pens and just keep buying more and more. Two new pens were all we were allowed at the beginning of the academic session. Somehow, they were enough.
If we really want to save Mother Earth, we will have to re-learn how to re-use things. We have to do away with the habit of freely available disposables at our disposal. This would really mean going back to the future.
Why not start with pens? Perhaps, the education department needs to step in and reintroduce refillable pens and simple pencils. They need to bring back the era of ink-filled pens that would last for ages. I wonder if Chelpark still exists or maybe Quink does! Remember anyone?
LOOK BACK TO THE TIME WHEN WE WERE SCHOOL KIDS AND WERE ALLOWED TO USE ONLY AND ONLY FOUNTAIN PENS. NOT ONLY WERE THEY EASIER ON THE POCKET. THEY WERE KINDER TO THE PLANET