Computers slowed business, customers disappeared, but he never stopped: This pen doctor still returns to repair pens after 55 years

Computers slowed business, customers disappeared, but Srinivasan, a pen repairman who has worked beside the east gate of Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai for 55 years, still shows up at his spot twice a day and has no intention of stopping.

Every morning at ten, he arrives near Naveen Bakery, close to the temple's east gate, and stays until one in the afternoon. He returns at five and works until eight at night. He has done this for more than five decades.

How Did the Pen Repair Business Change Over 55 Years?


Srinivasan says the trade is not what it once was.

"After computers came, the pen repair business slowed down," he said. "It's not like the old days anymore. People don't repair pens as much now."

Where customers once brought broken pens to be fixed, many now simply replace them. The economics of repair shifted. The habit of fixing things faded.

But Srinivasan did not shift with it.

"I've been doing this work for 55 years and I don't want to switch to another profession," he said. "Before me, my father did the same job, so this trade has been in our family."

Who Still Gets Pens Repaired in Madurai?

Srinivasan says schoolchildren are what keep the work going.

"Schoolchildren still use pens, so that keeps the work going," he said, adding that regular customers also return to buy pens or get old ones serviced.

At his spot, he stocks a wide range of pens, from old fountain pens to small pens, large pens, Kalaignar pens, and foreign-made ones. He also keeps the latest Chinese pens, which he describes as durable and good writers.

"Whatever pen people bring me, I service and fix it," he said.

Where to Find Madurai's Last Pen Doctor

Srinivasan sits near Naveen Bakery, close to the east gate of Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. He is there from ten in the morning until one, and again from five in the evening until eight at night.

"If you come to Madurai, you'll still find me at the same place," he said. "If you have a pen, bring it to me. I'll take a look and repair it for you."

(Disclaimer: This article is based on a viral social media post and online reactions. The Economic Times cannot independently verify the authenticity of the content and does not claim or endorse it.)​​

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