28th January 2013

Stay sharp

Trade practices in India were protective of Indian companies whihc saw companies like HPL - Hindustan Pencils Limited the makers of Natraj and Apsara become popular and big in India. Back in the days when I was a school kid the most common pencils used to be Natraj and Camlin Flora. Now my son is in school I have found, after trying the alternatives that Natraj is still the best pencil a kid can use in school, better than most other including the German ones like Faber Castell.

While Natraj and Camlin flora were the most popular HB pencils, Koh-i-noor by V Perumall Chetty and Apsara were popular among artists. Apsara pencils are still available and I used the same to make this sketch, the Koh-i-noor which I believe was a joint venture between V Perumall Chetty and a Checz company was shut down some time ago.