Pranav Gupta: How Neelgagan Remains India’s Long Standing Stationery Brand

An Exclusive Interview with Pranav Gupta, Director, Neelgagan, one of India’s long standing stationery brands

Meet Pranav Gupta, Director of Neelgagan, India’s venerable stationery powerhouse with decades of legacy. In this exclusive interview, he shares insights on sustaining tradition amid modern trends, the evolution of notebooks and pens, and his vision for the brand’s next chapter.

Despite digital tools and remote work trends, why do you believe stationery like notepads and account books remain essential in education, administration, and offices?

Pranav Gupta: Even in highly digitised environments, we consistently see people reaching for paper when accuracy and clarity matter. For example, teachers may share content digitally, but classroom work, rough calculations, and written practice still happen in notebooks.

In offices, meetings might happen on video calls, but most participants keep a notepad next to them to jot down action points or figures quickly.

In administration and government offices, account books are still used for daily registers and audit trails because they are tangible, chronological, and difficult to manipulate.

These products don’t replace digital tools—they quietly support them where speed, reliability, and permanence are needed.

How has Neelgagan observed stationery evolving to support hybrid learning and work environments, and what products have seen sustained demand?

Pranav Gupta: At Neelgagan, we’ve noticed that stationery hasn’t disappeared—it has become more purposeful. During and after the shift to hybrid work and learning, demand remained strong for ruled notepads, work pads, and durable account books.

For instance, students attending online classes still maintain physical notebooks for assignments and exam preparation, while professionals working from home often keep a dedicated desk notepad for daily planning.

Products that are well-ruled, sturdy, and consistent in quality continue to move steadily, regardless of whether work happens online or offline.

Why do institutional buyers—such as schools, government offices, and businesses—prioritize consistency, availability, and custom specifications over trendy or novelty items?

Pranav Gupta: Institutions work on repetition and scale. A school, for example, may require the same notebook specification for thousands of students year after year. Government offices often mandate specific page rulings, margins, and paper weights to maintain uniform records.

Businesses want account books that match their internal formats so staff can use them without retraining. Trendy designs or frequent format changes complicate procurement and operations.

For institutional buyers, predictability is more valuable than novelty because it reduces friction and ensures smooth functioning.

As one of the few national players in notepads and account books, what makes these categories indispensable for schools, government offices, and small businesses?

Pranav Gupta: Notepads and account books are among the most basic tools of record-keeping. A small trader may use an account book to track daily cash flow before transferring figures to a digital system later. Schools use notepads and registers for attendance, assessments, and internal documentation.

Government departments rely on bound books because they create a clear, sequential record that can be referenced years later. These categories have remained relevant because they solve everyday operational needs in a simple, dependable way—across regions, languages, and levels of digital adoption.

How do preferences differ between urban and smaller-town buyers, and what adaptations has Neelgagan made to serve these areas effectively?

Pranav Gupta: Urban buyers often look for cleaner finishes, smoother paper, and specialised formats suited to professional use. In contrast, buyers in smaller towns tend to prioritise durability, familiar sizes, and value-for-money products that can withstand heavy daily use.

We’ve seen, for example, that thicker covers and strong bindings matter more in high-handling environments like local schools and shops.

Neelgagan addresses this by offering multiple grades within the same category, ensuring that whether a customer is in a metro or a tier-3 town, they get a product suited to their usage rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

What challenges do legacy brands face in balancing tradition with innovation, and how has Neelgagan navigated them?

Pranav Gupta: One challenge legacy brands face is knowing where innovation actually adds value. Changing a product’s look too often can confuse loyal customers, while not improving at all can lead to stagnation.

At Neelgagan, we’ve focused on behind-the-scenes improvements—better paper consistency, stronger bindings, cleaner trimming, and more efficient production processes.

These changes may not always be immediately visible, but customers notice them in how the product performs over time. This approach allows us to modernise while staying true to what users expect from the brand.

Looking ahead, how do you see Neelgagan evolving over the next 5–10 years to stay relevant amid digital shifts?

Pranav Gupta: Over the next decade, we see Neelgagan continuing to strengthen its core categories while upgrading manufacturing, quality controls, and sustainability practices. As digital tools grow, paper usage may become more intentional—but it will not disappear.

Schools, offices, and businesses will still need reliable stationery for structure and record-keeping. Our focus will be on ensuring that when paper is used, it is well-made, consistent, and fit for purpose. Rather than chasing trends, we aim to remain a dependable partner for institutions that value continuity and quality.

Pranav Gupta’s passion underscores Neelgagan’s timeless appeal in India’s stationery scene. As he charts a future blending heritage with innovation, the brand promises enduring quality for generations. A testament to resilience and creativity in a digital age.

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