Ever wondered about the ink that the polling officer puts on your finger before you vote? Most people do not know that this blue indelible ink is produced in Mysore, Karnataka. The company, Mysore Paints and Varnishes, has been India’s sole supplier of indelible election ink since 1962. But it didn’t start with indelible ink. Founded in 1937 by the then Maharaja of Mysore province, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, under the name Mysore Lac & Paint Works, the company’s first product was lacquer sourced from the sprawling forests near Mysuru and Nagerhole.
Today, the company helps ensure the smooth running of elections in 30 countries, including India, Thailand, Singapore, Nigeria, Malaysia, Cambodia and South Africa. Since 1962, the formula for the patented “indelible election ink” has been a secret – closely guarded by numerous government officials who have worked on the beautiful 16-acre wooded grounds and historic buildings.
Indelible ink has already been supplied to most of the states in the country including the states; Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The company has produced and supplied a total of 26.55 lakh vials of 10 ml size indelible ink for the Lok Sabha election. A total of 700 voters can be indelibly marked using a 10 ml bottle.
The steady business has ensured the company’s profitability. In 2016-17, Mysore Paints earned a profit of Rs 618 crore. In an election year, this figure could double. Between 40 and 60% of the company’s revenue comes from the sale of indelible ink. The public sector company, which employs 100 workers, engineers and chemists, has been profitable since 1991.
MPVL Managing Director K Mohammed Irfan expressed the company’s commitment to meet the increasing demand for indelible ink.
He pointed out that with every election, the demand for the product increases and the company is committed to meeting the requirements of the different states and nations.