Indian Fountain Pen Inks, Part 4: Sulekha Ink

Sulekha ink is one of the oldest ink brands in India, but their current offerings are among the newest. I have to thank "Inked Happiness" for making me aware of this ink and for providing a lot of the information, including interviews on their channel with the current Maitras. If you're not familiar with Inked Happiness, I recommend looking at the channel: / @inkedhappiness
Music In this Video comes from Hooksounds.com

[@thewetpen]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I just finished this video and haven't even watched it yet, but I had to post it now or sometime in the new year. Hope some of you find this interesting!

[@zion3335]

do u know i live in kolkata (erstwhile culcutta) (india) and the sulekha ink factory (which it used to be) is just a block from near where i live presently, the place (local neighborhood) is also called sulekha, nice documentary, i never knew this ink had so much heritage, from childhood we knew there was an ink factory there..

[@thewetpen]

@@zion3335 Ah! Very cool to meet someone from so close to the old Sulekha factory! Glad you enjoyed the video, and I hope you continue to enjoy the ink :-)

[@philippebarillecavalier9275]

North America: Here's a very special ink. It's called Sulekha. Hard to get, comes from India. India: Here's a very special ink. It's called Noodler's. Hard to get, comes from North America.

[@sumanbhowmik5875]

❤️LOVE FROM KOLKATA❤️ I'm a bengali, I use sulekha ink and pens from my childhood, but for the first time I saw anyone outside from Kolkata buying or reviewing Sulekha Inks.. 🥰Feeling proud to be a Bengali 🥰

[@thewetpen]

You definitely have something to be proud of :-) Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Vishnuu156]

Is Sulekha ink waterproof?

[@fmsammy]

This is the most detailed review of almost the entire range of Sulekha inks. You missed the most expensive Firangi Kali range, meant originally for the colonial rulers with a separate formulation. I want to thank you for posting this beautiful review of Sulekha inks. Hats off to you for sourcing these otherwise rare to find inks even in India. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@thewetpen]

It took me nearly a year to get the Firingi Kali set, so that will be getting its own video :-) Coming up after my Inkvent videos, probably :-)

[@mohnishverma9454]

@@thewetpen sir , i would like to tell you something about firangi Kali bootle, those bootle look like bootle of Alta (red colour ink) used by indian women especially women in and around west bengal to colour there feet.

[@thewetpen]

@@mohnishverma9454 Thank you! That's wonderfully helpful, and of course you're exactly right... I just looked up Alta (they sell it on Amazon, here) and the bottle looks exactly the same. Very interesting.

[@fmsammy]

@@thewetpen Lolz.. Look up an image of Kali (the dark skinned goddess & also meaning 'ink') and her feet. Since these inks were made for the wife's of British elites by the women of Moitra family, they got hold of the nearest ink bottle they could find it seems :D

[@ranjiguru]

Hi.. @ 7:30.. its written as "Sulekha Ink" in 15 major languages of India. You can find the similarity in our currency notes back as well 🙂. Happy to see the legacy of Indian inks and fountain pens reviewed and appreciated by fountain pens lovers outside Indian continent. Even most of we Indians don't know the history of Sulekha, Bril, Gama / Gem & co, Ranga, Camilin ,Chelpark, Mohi etc.

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! I have a few more Indian ink videos coming soon :-)

[@parthakarmakar3907]

I am an Indian and a Bengali at the same time. Thank you so much for giving such a great review on Sulekha Ink. Sulekha Ink is an emotion for us. There is a lot of history associated with it. Thank you.❤

[@thewetpen]

I am glad that you found my video, and glad that it didn't disappoint you :-) I enjoyed making it!

[@wiramonol5266]

The background and company history was a great addition. Thanks

[@PunemySported]

I haven't watched the whole of your India series yet (this was the first to come across my feed!) but as a Desi who is also a fan of fountain pens, I was thrilled to see it. The air bubbles in the bottle glass has me very concerned though, I won't lie. My grandfather was a glassmaker in life, and lived during the Raj, he would have been furious to see glass with impurities like that!

[@sushmitriyanbasuli6889]

When I used to read my mom's old books, I frequently saw advertisements of Sulekha as well as old bottles everywhere in her childhood home. I thought the brand bit the dust for a long time until I stumbled upon one in a local shop. I got a bottle of turquoise ink and I've been using thise inks till then. Nice to see someone outside of India did so much research on an Indian brand with such a rich but little known history.

[@thewetpen]

I wish that I had been able to find the old Sulekha ads from newspapers and magazines, but the relevant publications don't seem to be easily available to me, here! I'm glad that you're enjoying the ink and can connect with its history, which is important. 🙂

[@riyazaniz]

Me too user of sulekha. Got introduced to it by owner of Click India. Commendable video format. Great. Keep it up.

[@chinugupta7784]

Excellent detailed presentation. Please keep up your good work 👍

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! I'll do my best 🙂

[@Art_culture_livin]

Oh man , I am a fountain pen enthusiast but somehow I don't like to watch ink reviews , but this is the first time ever I have seen a interesting and unique way of presentation. Welldone

[@cubing4eternity774]

I loved that you were able to showcase almost the whole range of inks. I use the swaadhin black for drawing and ink washes it's one of the easiest to use and maintain inks that I own. My parents used to use this ink in school and now I use them to draw, Sulekhas story is definitely an interesting one and I hope these become more available in stores.

[@thewetpen]

Good to hear that you're enjoying the Sulekha inks; I've heard mixed reviews from my Indian viewers, but I also get the impression that some Indians are harsher critics of their own nation's inks :-)

[@howdyyuvraj]

7:37 it says "Sulekha ink" in multiple Indian languages. This is probably your best tribute to our freedom movement. Yes, Indians were in defiance towards any English product and I did not know ink production was part of the movement too. This is such an amazing video. Thanks a lot ❤ Being from around Bangalore region, Bril and Camlin are more common here and I have been following other videos too.

[@kkkall02]

Asked you a few days back in a comment about this with a buy link. And you come up with this so early which means even before I asked you started the process 😁. I bought a few bottles from them a few days back. During my childhood only a few indian inks were there, one of them is sulekha. The inks are manufactured here in my state. All Bengali sentiments are there too! Waiting for your review of Syahi ( Great Indian Ink) next.

[@Oliveiragfak]

Love this Indian inks series and particularly this episode. Bravo for the research on the highly interesting history of this brand. Your video editing is very good and your voice and commentary is perfectly adequate with the visuals. Congratulations

[@thewetpen]

Hello Miguel, and thanks! Glad that you're enjoying this series... I've been having fun with it, but I didn't know how much others would find it interesting. I have at least 4 more videos planned for this series, but it may go even further :-)

[@buttermilkoreo]

God bless you for this video. SO,. GOOD

[@EverGreenElephant]

Wow, this was so interesting and inspiring!

[@thewetpen]

Glad you liked it! I thought the Sulekha story was really interesting, too 🙂

[@maitrayeesengupta1973]

Thank you sir for your details information about Sulekha ink ......I want to add few more information...... 1) in Swadhin bottle there is a image of a statue.....he was our frist freedom fighter KHUDIRAM BASU who hanged by British at the age of 17.... 2) In bottle Swades there was a side which you pointed that you cant recognise what it written..... that's is 'Sulekha' written in our 25 indian language like bengali, tamil etc..... 3) In bottle Swades there was a scroll paper ...... bottom of Mahatma.....there was also a picture of Balmiki who wrote Mahabharat with the help of Lord Ganesha.....we believe Lord Ganesha was the master of writing. 4) That bag look like made of jute.....jute was first crops of India which exported to international market. 5) I live near Sulekha company.....and that spot also known as Sulekha.....but todays we mostly use ink products of Camlin....🙂

[@thewetpen]

Thanks for all the additional info! I suspected that the writing on side of the box might be "Sulekha" in a variety of different scripts, but didn't have an easy way to confirm it. When I looked up "Khadi" , which was unfamiliar to me, all of the sources that I found said that it was made of cotton "or other natural fibers", which leaves a lot of room for imagination... but jute certainly seems likely. The color is certainly right. I like these Sulekha inks for their history, but I'll admit that I'd also rather write with Camlin Royal Blue.

[@maitrayeesengupta1973]

@@thewetpen Yes sir.... that's why Camlin is most popular ink in India.....and i like the way you describe a pens or ink.....Only a real pen lover can do it every time ...as a pen lover i admire yours passion sir...and thank you for providing us such a great videos about pens and ink... it's help me known more about pen..... That glass pen and it's ink all about i known first from your video.😊

[@paritoshdabral2946]

Thank you @thewetpen for drawing the attention of people towards Indian inks. Your videos are detailed and the voice-over, editing, and information are excellent. As a fellow fountain pen user but based in India, I stand ready to extend assistance should you need any. Thank you.

[@thewetpen]

My pleasure! Thanks for your offer... I may take you up on it! It's getting harder to find places that will ship me Indian inks via IndiaPost. 🙂

[@paritoshdabral2946]

@@thewetpen it will be my pleasure to be of assistance.

[@rjmarmaro]

Happy Thanksgiving! Just wanted to say that your videos keep me interested, and I think your relaxed pacing is a big part of that. Keep up the good work. Really appreciate each of your videos so far. You are the reason I have been looking into getting some inks from over seas to try out as well.

[@bharatc.sampat6406]

Excellent report. Thanks

[@gyatak200]

Red is revolution. Probably coloring everything red.

[@boiraagi]

This is to address your doubt at 7:38. What you find on that side of the box is the brand name ‘Sulekha Ink’ written in several Indian languages. Much appreciated how you have covered the brand that has played such a role in bringing back the fountain pen in a big way in the city of Kolkata. Remains my go-to staple brand of fountain pen inks.

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the videos. I had intended these videos to raise awareness of Indian inks in the USA, but it seems that a few Indians have found them interesting too, which is always nice to see 🙂

[@ivarjonsson3458]

Well done, love comprehensive reviews like this plus an interesting history lesson.

[@inkcrediblefountainpens]

Now that's what I call a very detailed and informative review. Excellent job as always.

[@buck-pucker]

These ink videos are amazing. You capture them so well.

[@thewetpen]

Thanks!

[@ayanmondal8995]

Great video.I use Sulekha blue. Love from Kolkata,India 🇮🇳

[@mohnishverma9454]

Sir i am thinking of buying swadhin blue and samarpan maa ( blue black) can you tell me about there flow compare to Waterman serenity blue and bril ink

[@thewetpen]

Sorry for the delay. I find that the flow of both of these Sulekha inks is very good and smooth; the Maa blue is very similar to Waterman (in flow). The Swadhin also has very good flow, but it's a little thicker, so if you're writing with a dip pen, for example, you'll get more loaded onto the nib at once. Otherwise, both put down a very reliable, wet line.

[@rohitganguly4949]

Excellent video. Really enjoyed the content and the depth of your coverage, especially the background history bit. Thanks!

[@thewetpen]

Thanks 🙂

[@rajibchakrabarti8716]

On one side of the box 'Sulekha ink' is written in 15 Indian languages. From this you can have an idea about the linguistic diversity of the country.

[@chiragnk602]

Was waiting for this

[@jamesaritchie1]

This was fascinating. I love history, and backstory makes anything more interesting.

[@thewetpen]

Thanks James! There's another Sulekha video coming that is also pretty interesting, I think, but it will have to wait... today I'm scrambling to make my day's inkvent video, which I failed to complete in advance 🙂

[@parasmehta5313]

Thank you for this very detailed review!

[@Sandeepan]

In swadhin line, the photo is of the statue of ক্ষুদিরাম বসু (Khudiram Bose) , a teenage revolutionary and one of the first martyr of freedom movement

[@thewetpen]

Thanks for the additional info! There was so much to cover in this video, I couldn't delve too deep or I'd never have finished it.

[@kunwardpjauhrane2245]

Outstanding

[@thespicedune]

Another great and informative video. Loving this series.

[@eugenborcan]

Never heard of this ink... interesting - thanks for making this! I dig the vintage Pelikan look of their ink bottles :). Are they all dye based?

[@thewetpen]

It's interesting to me that they used Pelikan shaped bottles... I'd have thought that they would try to replicate their vintage bottles, but I think that they're starting small and using what they can get. Yes, all the inks are dye based, and they are based on the original Maitra brothers recipes. I forgot to mention in the video that these inks do all have a scent... a lot like Bril inks.

[@mohnishverma9454]

@@thewetpen no sir , I think they are trying to create the old charm kind of thing because getting good glass bootles is not so expensive you have seen bril and camlin already doing this even when they are already charging a premium amount compare to other ink manufacturers these inks which you bought every one of them are there premium range of inks they even had a cheap range of ink available for local market only which means calcutta only not even whole of india.

[@thewetpen]

@@mohnishverma9454 That's a good point. I saw an interview with Kaushik Maitra, and he said that the bottles were the most expensive part, especially if they were specially made, so I supposed that they had just cut some corners, there.

[@tathagata_chakrabarty]

7:36 its actually 'Sulekha Ink' written in the various languages of India. You'll find a similar multilingual in scription on the Indian Bank notes. Each language represents each part of the nation. Thank you so much for the detailed review.

[@user-ck8jz3fv2i]

Love from Calcutta

[@paulmchugh1430]

Fascinating overview of India ink. I have never considered these inks but will if the dry times are quick.

[@thewetpen]

These ones do dry quickly, similar to Bril ink. They're very practical inks (except for the green that feathers), even if the colors are nothing new and exciting... and even the most expensive is very reasonably priced.

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@thewetpen The price is excellent in comparison to what is out in the market. Thank you for the reply on dry times.

[@avinashprasad2535]

"India ink" is a seperate thing entirely, used for dip nib calligraphy/art generally and will ruin fountain pens ... Keep an eye out while purchasing!

[@gadsby4u]

Would love to see you using this Indian ink with Indian hand made fountain pens.

[@thewetpen]

I have a nice little collection of Indian hand-made pens, but they didn't make it into this video. Later this month, I'll be making another Sulekha video, so I'm sure they'll make it into that one 🙂

[@gadsby4u]

@@thewetpen thanks a ton for your prompt reply. ..... Now I know I have joined the right group. ....Also....I stay in Calcutta ( Kolkata) only...

[@SurajSandhu]

damn I always thought this brand was vintage-cool but never tried to check the history, thanks for educating me about my own country lol

[@thewetpen]

Ha! Glad you found it interesting!

[@visitkoushik]

Thank you

[@thewetpen]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@yaminibhamare1148]

It seems to me very antic..

[@thewetpen]

Yes, I like the historical feel of these inks :-)

[@samiranrout5045]

7:37 Reads "Sulekha Ink" in different major languages of India.

[@AbheriDe03]

Thank you for such a detailed review. Please do with the other available Sulekha Inks too.....

[@thewetpen]

I'll try. I'm not planning a trip to India any time soon, so it will depend on whether I can get someone to send me the new Swaraj inks.

[@GregJorgo]

Just can’t find a place to buy these inks here in Australia, which btw is not surprising, we are an island…. Tried India and they don’t ship to Oz either. Any suggestions?

[@thewetpen]

You might try thepenworld.com They ship internationally, and should have some of the Sulekha inks. Good luck!

[@yl170]

Thanks for good review! Are some of those inks water resistant?

[@thewetpen]

I haven't tested them all for water resistance, but I don't think that any of them are... none of the Sulekha inks that I've tested have been water resistant.

[@madhumitaavinaba2964]

👍👍👍👍

[@imranh1225]

7:40 those are the words Sulekha ink in some of the Indian languages like Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Telugu etc.

[@thewetpen]

Thanks!

[@drnimish333]

Good video

[@thewetpen]

Thanks!

[@irule102]

Love the exploration of these inks you are doing! What are you using for the swabs? Are they like little foam brushes?

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! They're foam cleaning swabs... from Amazon

[@garyconway439]

Today January 2024 Kaagazi is offline, do you know where else to get Sulekha inks in the US … please?

[@thewetpen]

As far as I know, the only way to order them is to contact Sulekha directly, now. I don't think international ordering is possible directly from their website

[@avinashprasad2535]

Good to see an old brand being revived, however there have been reports of fading of their inks..theres this blog inkpenpapers who has actually tested this and yeah... Some of their inks do fade pretty badly 😔 Sulekha needs to reconsider some formulations, fading inks are simply not it !

[@thewetpen]

This issue with fading is unfortunately true of a lot of dye-based inks, even expensive European and Japanese ones... I hope that doesn't mean that Sulekha is even worse. When I was a teenager and started writing a journal, I was very disappointed to flip back to the beginning of the year and find my writing so faded that it was getting hard to read... that was Sheaffer Skrip ink.

[@TrajanRoman]

Wonderful reviews. Many thanks: did you you run into any Indian turquoise ink (Bril, perhaps) that is dry (like Pelikan inks are). I need to for a particularly wet Montblanc M. Thnaks!

[@thewetpen]

Hmmm... not that I can think of. I don't think that the Bril was particularly dry, but I'll double check.

[@thewetpen]

OK, just double checked, and the Bril was actually very wet... and feathers quite a bit on cheap paper. You might want to try Daytone Bottle Green or even Cerulean Blue (which is about the same color as the Bril). They're not dry inks, exactly, but much drier than the Bril, and they seem to behave well.

[@Feynman_Fries]

Hello, I love your videos. I need your help in selecting an ink for grading and correction work at school. As a teacher I need a sturdy red ink that's aggressive and holds up on every quality of paper without feathering or bleeding, for I get all kinds of notebooks from students. Also the ink should be easily available and rather less expensive. I used Camlin Scarlett red but it was very light, looked cheap and dilute and didn't invoke authority. I switched to waterman audacious red, it was a nice strong shade but it had served me with flow issues in my jinhao x750 that I use for grading. Eventually the ink deteriorated as the dye separated from the base and was rendered useless. Kindly help me pick one. Again it should be in the ballpark of Rs.100 to 200 per bottle and available in India.

[@thewetpen]

Hmm, that's tricky... partly because I'm not in India, and partly because I don't use much red ink these days. I have been pretty happy with Sulekha's red inks in my limited usage, and as you've seen in this video, they range in price from Rs. 100 on up. I have a bottle of Daytone "Extra Fine" Ruby ink, and it's a good strong red color, and costs Rs. 60 per 60ml bottle. The flow is on the dry side (which is not uncommon for red inks), but it's not bad. Krishna Sindhoor is a good red... looks about the same to me as the Sulekha reds, and I'm not sure of the price in India, but they're generally good inks. Good luck!

[@Feynman_Fries]

@@thewetpen I think I'll try sulekha but it looked more on the orange side in your review, much like Camlin. For Daytone I haven't received good reviews. I was very disappointed why my waterman ink went bad although I always maintained hygiene. I've been looking for a perfect grail red pen but the search continues!

[@unionics]

Is this Pigment based ink ?

[@thewetpen]

No, this is dye-based. As far as I know, their only pigment ink is the new Sampurna waterproof ink. The "Ma" in this video is iron gall, I believe.

[@user-bw5xx4vi3e]

love form Bangladesh

[@constantinosglam]

Is there a way to order these in the EU? Ive been googling all day and I could not find them anywhere in Europe :/

[@thewetpen]

They're not easy to get outside of India, but you should be able to get them from India. Try emailing Ayush Paper, if their website doesn't have EU checkout. I see that Kaagazi has closed their website, so that's not an option, but there are probably other Indian shops that will export them. Good luck!

[@constantinosglam]

@@thewetpen thank you i will try that!

[@freeman4899]

Swaraj in my birth right , it was said by Bal Gangadhar Tilak not Gandhi

[@thewetpen]

Yes, the side of the box attributes the quote to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak 7:35 🙂

[@davecharvella4854]

👍👍

[@Vishnuu156]

Is Sulekha waterproof ink ?

[@thewetpen]

Some of them are, but not most of them. The "Ma" ink here is waterproof, and they have a new ink called "Sampurna" that comes in a smaller bottle that is a beautiful blue and completely waterproof. I'm making a video about that ink now... should be ready in a couple of days.

[@avishekchakrabarty2560]

New sulekha is not good it causes sedimentation , fades almost instantly and overpriced. Previously it was so good especially royal blue.

[@thewetpen]

That's the second comment I've heard about fading... I'll have to test it myself :-)

[@avishekchakrabarty2560]

@@thewetpen test the "ma" ink you will get the desired results.

[@amoghrajput4338]

Dude u need to work on your collection . I checked your playlists and it is filled with Indian fountain pens . I m proud u are using Indian pens but still improve your collection . Just see what other parts of world have to offer in this creative world of fountain pens . Try other international brands . I know they cost more but still worth experience.

[@thewetpen]

Do you honestly believe that I make videos about Indian fountain pens because I'm not familiar with the rest of the market, or that they're all that I own? *SMH*

[@amoghrajput4338]

@@thewetpen but u make best videos that's a thing . But we need little variations .

[@amoghrajput4338]

@@thewetpen but I saw ranga asa kanwrite all time .

[@thewetpen]

@@amoghrajput4338 I have dozens of Japanese and European and Chinese pens that I will probably review at some point, but there are so many people who already do those kinds of reviews, I don't want to duplicate them if I have reviews that are more unique. I'll get there eventually, though.

[@amoghrajput4338]

@@thewetpen yeah 👍 now I got why u covering Indian pens . Thats good . What u think about scrikss fountain pens . Pls review them as well . Not scrikss 419 but scrikss other model that compares with metropolitan