Lakshmi Narayan and his singular mission to keep Bengaluru’s typewriters alive

For over five decades, Lakshmi Narayan based out of Chamrajpet, has repaired, restored and taught typing, proving that even in the digital age, the humble typewriter still has a place. 

When we meet, the first thing he does is place a typewriter in front of me, and says, “Go on,” gesturing towards the keys. 

Inside his modest workshop, shelves are packed with typewriting machines of every kind. English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu and even imported European models polished to a sheen. Some are waiting to be repaired, while others are ready for new homes. Every typewriter here has a story, and after more than 50 years in this field, so does the man behind them. 

Also read: The last custodians of the typewriter

Simple start

Lakshmi Narayan has been repairing typewriters since 1973. What began as an apprenticeship at the Bengaluru Industrial Trading Company eventually became a lifelong profession after working on Halda typewriters. He also taught at the Sathish Institute of Commerce, with his wife. “This line of work has given me everything,” says Lakshmi. “I have a house now. I have food to eat. I have no problems.”

For many, the typewriter belongs in a museum, but for Narayan, it belongs solely on his workbench. His days are spent dismantling aging machines, cleaning years of dust with oil and kerosene, replacing worn-out parts, and looking for spares. He usually does not need to look too far as he salvages components from broken machines to bring another one back to working condition. 

Client base

Customers, surprisingly, have not disappeared, although they have changed, and include collectors on the look out for antique Remingtons and imported Olivers, while students enrol for typing classes because a few government posts still require certified typing skills in English and Kannada. Colleges, hobbyists and a few first-time buyers also stop by, with refurbished machines typically selling from ₹6,000 to ₹15,000. 

One of the typewriters at Lakshmi Narayan’s shop
| Photo Credit:
Jessica Jeba

While that is the going rate, some machines such as Tamil typewriters can fetch several lakhs as they are quite rare. 

Narayan speaks of each machine with the affection of someone introducing old friends rather than merchandise. “There aren’t many mechanics left,” he says. “There might be around 50 of us left in Karnataka.” 

Like every other business, his too evolved with technology. Today, WhatsApp, JustDial and OLX have replaced newspaper ads. Every restored machine is photographed and shared online, reaching customers across India. 

As I prepare to leave, he gestures towards the rows of carefully restored machines surrounding us and says he would happily teach anyone interested to learn. 

While typewriters may no longer be the world’s preferred way to write, in this little corner of Bengaluru, their familiar clickety-clack-ding refuses to die.