It was in the early forties that a few enterprising printers of Delhi had formed a forum for discussing the problems of the Printing Industry. After India’s independence, the number of printing units got multiplied. Therefore, in the year 1953-54 the Printers’ Forum converted itself into Delhi Printers’ Association.

Accordingly, the office bearers of the association were formally elected for the first time. In 1955 the All India Federation of Master Printers’ requested the Delhi Printers’ Association to organise a Printers’ Conference in Delhi. The association being in its infancy had no infrastructure for the purpose. Yet, the persons at the helm of affairs accepted the challenge. The result was the first All India Printers’ Conference and Exhibition in 1957 which was held at the Exhibition Grounds, now Pragati Maidan. The Conference, in which printers from all parts of the country participated, was inaugurated by Sardar Swaran Singh, the then Industries Minister, Government of India. This first exhibition of printing machinery and equipment came out on unprecedented scale in which both Indian and foreign machinery manufacturers put their hardware on display. Late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and several other VVIPs visited the exhibition. Some savings were made from the conference and exhibition and that is how the wherewithal was created and a solid foundation of the association laid. Thereafter the association functioned regularly. Printers Bhawan, Naraina

The association was got registered on 30th July, 1959 vide Certificate of Registration of Societies Act XXI of 1860 No.S.1488 of 1959-60. The Central Government was also fully satisfied with the aims and objectives of the association and its day-to-day functioning and allotted Flat No.26-A, Shankar Market on rent basis. It has since been converted into ownership. The main office of the association continues its operation from this flat. In 1975 the association purchased a plot of land measuring 423.13 sq. mtrs. at A-21/10, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi at an auction, with the financial assistance of several benefactors and well wishers. The foundation stone of the building “Printers Bhawan” was laid in 1978 by Mr. Kidar Nath Sahni, the then Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi, and the construction was completed in due course. DPA Office , New Delhi

For the benefit of members the association started a Technical Library at the Printers’ Bhawan in 1988. It was inaugurated by Mr. M. J. Singh, then Director of Printing, Government of India. In the same year the President of Delhi Printers’ Association, Mr. Subhash Chander, started a Technical Training Centre at the Bhawan.

It was inaugurated by Mr. K. L. Shroff, President of All India Federation of Master Printers, under the chairmanship of Late Mr. S. N. Mehta. Over 1400 students completed training in DTP, laser printing, scanning and screen printing. According to their merit the students were given away gold medals, silver medals and certificates. Most of the trained students are very well placed in service or in their own business. The courses are now being revamped to suit the changing technology.

In times of crisis the association has always been in the forefront for the sake of the printing industry - be it relocation of industries from residential/non-conforming areas to industrial areas, Sales Tax on Works Contract, Value Added Tax or undue hike in prices of paper. The executive committee and members of the association took out a rally from Connaught Place to Boat Club in April 1989 to fight hike in paper prices and its shortage. Similarly, to fight the frequent steep hikes in paper prices and its shorage, DPA in association with AIFMP, held a press conference on May 11, 2007. Almost in every fight the association got great relief to printers.

Another feather in the cap of the association was the organising of a competition for Excellence in Printing in 1993, where a panel of eminent judges selected entries from small, medium and large printers for first, second and third prizes in various categories. The Excellence in Printing Awards Function was held at the Kanishka Hotel on Nov. 20, 1993 where the former President of India, Giani Zail Singh, gave away the prizes.

To celebrate the 50th Year of India’s Independence, the association held a felicitation function on 9th August, 1998 where Mr. Vijay Kumar Chopra, Editor-in-Chief of Hind Samachar Group of Newspapers, was the Chief Guest. Short one-act plays on the lives of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and Subhash Chandra Bose were enacted. Later on, the main item of honouring of senior citizens-cum-past presidents of the associations - Prof. Vedavrata, Messrs Vishwa Nath, S. N. Mehta, Maharaj Krishan, V. K. Makhija, M. R. Kumar, Sah Dev Varma, V.N. Chhabra and B. D. Girotra - was held. The youngest past-president Mr. Subhash Chander was given the Life-time Achievement Award.

One of the outstanding achievements made by the association was the floating of the Printers’ Cooperative Group Housing Society which constructed 438 flats - MIG, HIG and Super-HIG , suiting different budgets - on a sprawling 8 - acre plot of land at Rohini in North Delhi. The society, which is counted among the biggest complexes in Delhi, has won awards for greenery and environment. Allottees have already occupied the flats and are enjoying the modern facilities available there.

Being the largest association of the Printing Industry in India, Delhi Printers’ Association has been holding seminars, workshops, conferences, socio-cultural and family get-together events like Holi Milan and Picnics, Excellence in Printing contests, etc. to achieve its objectives. Normally four Governing Council meetings of All India Federation of Master Printers are held in a year in rotation and hosted by affiliate associations of different cosmopolitan cities of the country. Therefore, DPA has been organising at least one such G..C. meeting of AIFMP every year in or around Delhi. Its activities and existence are recognised by the Central and State Governments.

“Delhi Printer”, the official mouthpiece of the association, carries weight in different departments of the Delhi Administration. The association has been on the mailing lists of concerned ministries and Central and State Government departments. The Delhi State Govt. has given representation to the association on several boards and committees namely, Labour Advisory Board, Industrial Advisory Board, Minimum Wages Committee, Value Added Tax, etc. While local problems are handled by the association at Delhi Administration level, the All-India problems are tackled through the All India Federation of Master Printers’.