The mobile stationer

“Charles Sobhraj bought his first pen from me in 1986 or 1987. I used to stand near the lockup at Tis Hazari court then,where the old maalkhana used to be. I would stand there all day selling my products. Sobhraj used to come for his hearings when I would meet him. His favourite was the nib-pen,particularly the Chinese ink pen,” Dargan says.

Sobhraj,he recalls,also used to ask specially for Chelpark ink for his pens. “He also used to ask me to get law books for him. He would usually write down the name of the book on a piece of paper and give me money in advance. I would buy it and give it to him on the next hearing. The policemen accompanying him used to be so careful that a sub-inspector always used to check the books I got from cover to cover before handing them over to Sobhraj,” Dargan says.

Conman Natwarlal,who had reportedly ‘sold’ the Taj Mahal,Red Fort,Rashtrapati Bhavan and even the Parliament House by forging signatures of famous personalities,used to buy ballpen refills from Dargan. “He was fond of the simple 25 paise refills and usually bought the black or blue ones. Now,the same thing costs a rupee each,” Dargan says.

Similarly,many judges,now retired,used to ask their peons to fetch their favourite pens from their favourite pen wallah. Earlier,most people asked for fountain pens. Though cumbersome to use,they gave a distinct flair to writing. Reynolds pens were also popular for their “amazing” flow. “Once a Reynolds user,always a Reynolds user. People trust it. I myself love Reynolds,” Dargan says. These,however,have now been replaced by the cheaper use-and-throw pens.

Some customers occasionally placed special orders. “Two judges always used to order Parker pens which cost around Rs 400 then,” he recalls. Even today,Dargan supplies expensive pens,books and notebooks on order. “Whoever asks for a special product,I get it,” he says.

Dargan’s day starts early. He first goes to the fruit market in the morning and sells pens to wholesalers. After a brief lunch and a short nap at his house in North Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar,he goes to one or two of the courts in the city,depending on how much business he does. He visits Tis Hazari and Rohini courts frequently,owing to the proximity from his house. He also sometimes visits Saket and Dwarka courts.

“In Karkardooma,three lawyers helped me set up a makeshift shop by giving me a table and a cupboard. I go there sometimes but I do not feel like sitting. These days,everyone wants service at their doorstep. So I keep going to chambers and rooms so that it benefits my customers and helps me make more money,” he says.

After court hours,Dargan visits Palika Bazar or Karol Bagh to sell pens and stationery to the local shopkeepers. Every alternate day,he goes to Sadar Bazar in Old Delhi to buy fresh stock. He makes Rs 300-400 a day.

“When courts are off,I go around markets. Those are tough days. I like being here in courts. The love I have received from Delhi Police officers and court staff is unmatched. Many of them have even assisted me financially,” he said.

Dargan’s father,who died this year,was also a pen-seller just like him. After migrating to India from Lahore in 1947,he settled down at Samastipur in Bihar. In 1977,he moved to Delhi along with his son and set up a small shop selling stationery in Malkaganj outside Hansraj College in Delhi University.

Though Dargan was admitted to a government school in Kingsway Camp,he started selling pens in his student life. He would go to the courts for two hours after school every day and mingle with policemen and lawyers,slowly earning love and respect. “I started selling pens in 1980 after I realised that the courts could not work without pens and a steady supply of stationery. Then,the expenses were less and Rs 100 was enough for us. Now,even Rs 400 is not enough for basic necessities. My son is in Class X while my daughter has just appeared for Class XII board examination. I want her to learn stenography so that she leads a better life,” Dargan says.