Madras Day 2026: the humble typewriter keeps clacking despite the digital takeover

Manual typewriters might have been out of production for a long time now, but typewriting institutes continue helped by mechanics that keep old machines in circulation, taking the trouble to source difficult-to-get spare parts.

Here are voices from the city that assert that though institutes have steadily dwindled in numbers since Madras became Chennai, their relevance continues, and that computers cannot replace typewriters in terms of mastering typing skill