indore-man-s-570-typewriter-collection-keeps-legacy-alive

In an era dominated by sleek laptops and smartphones, Rajesh Sharma, a 68-year-old resident of Indore, has found solace and joy in a relic of the past—the typewriter. 

 

Sharma has transformed his house into a museum devoted to this famous writing device by accumulating an impressive collection of 570 typewriters from all around the world over the course of the previous 12 years.

 

A well-known figure in the city’s advertising scene, Sharma’s fascination with typewriters stems from his childhood memories. “My father was a typist near the Indore district court complex,” he recalls. “I grew up listening to the rhythmic sound of typewriter keys clacking away.” This early connection sowed the seeds for a passion that would see him collecting typewriters decades later.

 

Sharma’s impressive collection features an array of machines with keyboards in Hindi, various Indian regional languages, and foreign scripts such as Japanese, Russian, and Arabic. “I have collected typewriters from both India and abroad,” he said on Tuesday.

 

"Many of these machines were found in scrapyards, while 125 were gifted to me by people who heard about my collection.”

 

Among his most cherished possessions is a 1905 model from the United States, weighing approximately 25 kilograms and handed down by his father. “This typewriter holds deep emotional value for me,” he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

 

While his current display is limited to his home, Sharma has bigger ambitions. He dreams of expanding his collection into a larger space, enabling future generations to appreciate and learn about the rich legacy of typewriters. 

 

“I want to create a space where people, especially the youth, can see the evolution of writing technology and understand its historical significance,” he said.

 

Sharma is also seeking to enhance his collection with typewriters used by renowned Hindi authors, further cementing the link between the machines and the literature they helped produce.

 

In an age where technology is evolving at breakneck speed, Rajesh Sharma’s dedication to preserving these mechanical marvels serves as a poignant reminder of the value of history and the simple, enduring charm of the typewriter. 

 

His passion speaks not only to the love of an object but also to the preservation of a cultural legacy that shaped communication for generations.