InfoAnda - Montblanc's $25,000 Gandhi pen stirs controversy

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Gunmen kill 22 in village in northern Nigeria | | 15 October 2012
Truck crash kills 19 in northern China | 6 November 2009
China denies central bank chief has fled | 31 August 2010

Italy's Berlusconi says will see out his term | | 17 December 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Montblanc's $25,000 Gandhi pen stirs controversy

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Singapore Asia Pacific World Montblanc's $25,000 Gandhi pen stirs controversy By ERIKA KINETZ,AP Business Writer - Saturday, October 3 Send IM Story Print MUMBAI, India – An incongruous billboard has appeared high above Mumbai's slums: A thin Mohandas Gandhi, the ascetic father of India's independence, sits wrapped in simple white cloth above the image of a fat Montblanc pen. German luxury penmaker Montblanc International GMBH launched a limited-edition commemorative fountain pen in honor of Gandhi this week, just in time for the 140th anniversary of the birth of the Mahatma _ or "Great Soul" _ on Friday. The price? 17,000 euros ($24,763). The decision to turn a man who shunned foreign-made products and pushed simple living to new extremes into a "brand ambassador" _ as one local Web site put it _ for a global luxury goods maker has left some Indians puzzled and others angry. One group filed a lawsuit Thursday to try and halt distribution of the pen. "Mahatma Gandhi advocated a simple lifestyle," Dijo Kappen, who filed the suit and is managing trustee of the Center for Consumer Education in the southern state of Kerala, told the Associated Press. "He was, of course, a nationalist and, in the nature of the independence struggle, the only thing he promoted was Indian-made goods. It is a mockery of the great man and an insult to the nation ... to use him as a poster-boy." Broadcaster NDTV asked: "Why are multimillion dollar conglomerates fascinated with the image of a man once called the Naked Fakir?" Fakir refers to a Hindu or Muslim religious mendicant. A writer for India's Mint newspaper peered at the image of Gandhi, bamboo stave in hand, which is engraved in the pen's rhodium-plated nib and asked: "Where, really, was Gandhi in all this?" Oliver Goessler, Montblanc's regional director for India, Africa and the Middle East, says the answer is: Everywhere. "Whatever brings Gandhi and his ideas back to mind can only be good," he said by phone from Hamburg, Germany. Just 241 commemorative fountain pens will be sold _ a nod to the number of miles Gandhi walked in his famous 1930 "salt march," a mass protest against salt taxes levied by the British that dealt an early blow to their control over the subcontinent. The pens are handmade, adorned with Gandhi's signature and a saffron-colored opal. They come with an eight-meter (26-foot) golden thread that can be wound around the pen to invoke the spindle Gandhi used to weave plain cotton cloth each day. The pens also come with a commemorative booklet of inspiring Gandhi quotes. "It's not an opulent pen. It's a writing instrument that's very pure," Goessler said. Montblanc has 16 boutiques across India, but this is their first product targeted at India's growing audience for luxury goods. Goessler said he didn't have initial sales figures but demand for the pens in India has so far been "really spectacular." He said the idea to commemorate Bapu ("Father"), as Gandhi is affectionately known here, in a swish pen was born in India, not Europe. But, he added: "The name of Mahatma Gandhi, you have to be careful how you use it. That's why we linked it to two different charity initiatives." On Tuesday, Montblanc chief executive Lutz Bethge handed over a check for 100,000 euros ($145,666) to Gandhi's great grandson, Tushar Gandhi, for his foundation. The foundation will get an additional 10,000 to 50,000 rupees ($210 to $1,050) for each pen sold, Goessler said. Tushar said he did not get any money personally from Montblanc and his foundation would use the money to build a school and hostel for rescued child laborers. He said he sees the pen as a commemoration, not an exploitation of his great-grandfather's legacy. Gandhi "would have been amused that such a lavish and ostentatious pen was being dedicated to him," he said by phone from Amsterdam Friday, where he is attending a human rights conference. "He wouldn't have possessed it." Montblanc gave Tushar a pen, but he said he's been too shy to use it. "I can't bring myself to use it," he said. "It's too costly for me." Montblanc also took the unprecedented step of launching more affordable versions of the Gandhi pen. "When we talk about Gandhi, there has to be an edition that's more accessible," Goessler said. The cheaper line of 3,000 roller ball and fountain pens retails for 2,200 to 2,500 euros ($3,205 to $3,642). Even that is stratospherically out of reach for the vast majority of Indians, many of whom have been left out of India's economic boom. Over 450 million Indians struggle by on less than $1.25 a day. ___ Associated Press writer Anna Mathews in Kerala contributed to this report. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles CBS employee charged with Letterman extortion plot AP - Saturday, October 3 Investment in clean technology declined in 3Q AP - Saturday, October 3 Gannett completes $500M offering of senior notes AP - Saturday, October 3 Russia rouble ends strong week curbed by c.bank Reuters - Saturday, October 3 FOREX-Dollar weakens=2 Reuters - Saturday, October 3 News Search Top Stories Rio to host 2016 Olympics as Chicago, Obama shattered IMF unveils newfound strength forged in crisis US recovery effort stumbles as 263,000 jobs lost EU leaders anxious as Ireland votes on treaty World Bank warns on 2010 as US job losses mount More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Scientists find path to fountain of youth Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins France launches 'battle of the electric car' France Telecom boss under fire over staff suicides US auto sales crash after Cash for Clunkers expires More Most Viewed » Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Saturday, 3 October 2009
Croatia resumes EU membership talks, but Turkey trails
US-TECH Summary
IMF unveils newfound strength forged in crisis
Amazon settles Kindle lawsuit over "1984" copy
US recovery effort stumbles as 263,000 jobs lost
San Francisco tapping into tech-savvy citizens
Irish PM eyes Yes vote in crunch EU poll
ElBaradei bound for Iran to pin down Geneva accord | International |
Israel gets soldier video in swap for prisoners
EU leaders anxious as Ireland votes on treaty
Washington Post, Bloomberg launch news service
World Bank warns on 2010 as US job losses mount
National Post chief to bid for CanWest newspapers: report
Sicily storms kill 17, sniffer dogs search rubble
Rio's Copacabana beach erupts at Olympic win | International |
Google pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
World Bank warns of wobble ahead for global economy
Iraq's Mosul hopes for end to stubborn insurgency
'I'm on Facebook, friend me': top NATO commander
World Bank chief sees 'highly uncertain' 2010
Iran security forces detain student activists: report | International |
EU and U.S. to present plan to break Bosnia deadlock | International |
Rio make it an Olympic first for South America
Obama extends condolences to Indonesian president
Military searches for bodies, brings aid to Samoas
Tens of thousands in Philippines flee new typhoon
Myanmar court rejects opposition leader's appeal
Officials: Pakistan army to take on S. Waziristan
Davydenko leads top four into Malaysia semis
No mayhem charge for Calif. dad who tattooed son
How health care overhaul could change Medicare
E-readers seen as holiday hit | Technology |
Shooting victim says Russia links should be probed
Amazon settles Kindle lawsuit over 1984 copy | Technology |
Hawaii group leaves for Damien's canonization
Lake Havasu City to receive granite war memorial
Sect member pleads not guilty to child sex assault
Woman fined for letting 12-year-old drive
Co. that rented Trump home fined for Gadhafi tent
Bible verses banned from Ga. school football field
GE pushes India healthcare revenue, innovation
Mitsubishi wins US orders for Japan passenger jet
John Cusack promotes apocalyptic '2012' in Taiwan
Japanese automakers see Hyundai as global threat
Montblanc's $25,000 Gandhi pen stirs controversy
Toyota president expresses regret over fatal crash
Hundreds gather as Malaysia buries Noordin Top
Letterman creates brilliant hour of TV from woes
Man accused in David Letterman extortion is indicted
Swiss ex-minister: Polanski should've been warned
New film seeks answer to mystery of vanishing bees
Eminem's music publisher, Apple settle dispute
Steve Martin hits road with banjos, and some jokes | Entertainment |
Moscow cracks down on airport booze: prosecutors
Court rejects 'homo' libel suit against Moscow mayor
Nobel Literature Prize to be announced October 8
Haiti woos foreign investors with newly-found stability
Ally McBeal looks for love on DVD: finally | Entertainment |
Jewish bikers cruise for German unity
New film seeks answer to mystery of vanishing bees | Entertainment |
Animal rights group wants Tornatore film blocked | Entertainment |
London Evening Standard to become free sheet
UN atomic chief due in Iran as pressure mounts
IBM email challenges Google in the 'cloud'
Rio to host 2016 Olympics as Chicago, Obama shattered
Nokia Brazil brand battle goes to higher court
Hamas swaps video of Israeli soldier for prisoners
Indonesia quake levels villages, eight trapped in hotel | International |
US gun maker arming Wii shooter game
E-readers seen as holiday hit, presage tablet PCs
Iraqis lead crackdown in insurgent stronghold
Schmidt: Google-Apple board member should stay put
Honduras leader says met OAS chief, ready to talk | International |
Typhoon changes course, to only clip Philippines | International |
Nokia Brazil brand battle goes to higher court
Schmidt: Google-Apple board member should stay put | Technology |
US, British troops killed in Afghanistan attacks
Disappointed Tokyo looks to 2020 bid
Indonesia quake levels villages, eight trapped in hotel
Watson, Ponting fire tons as Australia crush England
Cops: Told to stop cursing, couple at KFC beat man
Nokia Brazil brand battle goes to higher court | Technology |
US paid reward to Lockerbie witness: legal papers
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 774
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,348
Jeff Luers back in custody after mistaken release
No respite for disaster-hit Asia
Prosecutors: NYC court escapee had disguises, $4K
Reid wants Obama's view on military's gay ban
Northern Marianas, Guam brace for Typhoon Melor
Michigan man identified as pilot of crashed plane
DA: Man charged in Letterman plot was deep in debt
The joke's on Letterman after on-air confession
IMF ups pressure on China to let currency rise
Jackson administrators retain control of estate
Travolta attorney in Bahamas trial denies setup
Lady Gaga says her show will go on without West | Entertainment |
Jackson administrators retain control of estate | Entertainment |
'Spore' set for the big screen
Argentine folk singer Sosa's condition worsening
Viewers react with sympathy, disgust for Letterman
Selena Gomez: Trip to Africa was 'life-changing'
DA: Man charged in Letterman plot was deep in debt
Lady Gaga says her show will go on without West
Sarah Palin book part of conservative boom
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
IAEA chief arrives in Iran to discuss enrichment site
Irish FM predicts victory for Yes camp in EU vote
Finance chiefs warn on recovery as G7 meets
IAEA: ElBaradei to visit Iran this weekend
Israeli planes strike Gaza tunnels and building
IAEA chief arrives in Iran to discuss enrichment site | International |
Tongan banker rescues people, cash from tsunami
Israeli planes strike Gaza tunnels and building | International |
Extra US troops for north, west Afghanistan: military
No US climate bill before December talks: Obama aide
Iraqi forces seize 140 insurgent suspects in Mosul | International |
Myanmar minister holds talks with Suu Kyi | International |
Pakistan prepares assault, eyes Taliban infighting | International |
Irish voters overwhelmingly back EU reform treaty | International |
Somali gunmen release 3 foreign aid workers | International |
Sudan's Bashir runs for president despite warrant | International |
Police: Kidnapped newborn found safe in Alabama
The nation's weather
Congress readies Iran sanctions if diplomacy fails
Spotting terrorists: What to watch for and where
Toll in south India floods rises to 134
AP NewsAlert
Myanmar junta official meets Aung San Suu Kyi
Trapped Indonesian quake victim sends text message
Pakistan: Anti-Taliban tribal elder fatally shot
Beaten Ohio man is shot during self-defense lesson
At least 172 dead in India floods
Musharraf: Multifaceted approach against Taliban
3 US troops killed by attacks in east Afghanistan
Teenage boy killed in Kashmir anti-India protests
Aung San Suu Kyi meets Myanmar junta minister
American Samoa relief builds
Calif teen gets 15 years in death of passenger
Obama adviser says no climate change law this year
China's XAC is majority owner of Austria's FACC
Inter-Korean trade declines more than 20 percent
Pakistani c.bank buys 60.4 bln rupees of govt paper
Judge empowers Jackson executors to handle debts
FBI: Man arrested in ESPN reporter nude video case
Guests for the Sunday TV news shows
Polanski agreed to $500,000 payment in civil suit
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01