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
Printers Bhawan,
Naraina
   
   
DPA Office, New Delhi

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
   
   
In 1983 the association organised the 21st All India Printers’ Conference and PAMEX-83 which were sponsored by All India Federation of Master Printers. PAMEX stands for Printing and Allied Machinery Exhibition. The Conference had an unprecedented 1256 delegates coming from all corners of India and abroad and was held for 3 days at the Convention Hall of Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi. It was inaugurated by the then Vice-President of India Mr. M. Hidayatullah.


PAMEX-83 held from 16th to 26th January, 1983 at Pragati Maidan, covering a total area of 9,385 sq. mtrs., was a huge success. Most of the known foreign machinery manufacturers besides India manufacturers displayed their hardware. PAMEX-83 was inaugurated by the Minister of Industries, Mr. N. D. Tiwari. Over one lakh visitors including about 600 foreigners from 31 countries saw this historical exhibition. Nearly 90% of exhibits valued at approximately rupees ten crore (of those days) were sold besides negotiating business worth 90 crore for import of machines. Indian exhibitors booked and negotiated export business of approximately two crore. There was a good saving from the Conference and PAMEX which helped in the completion of the Printers’ Bhawan. Such conferences sponsored by the Federation and organised by the local association are held after every fourth year in different zones of India.

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’.


The association brings out a Directory of its members after every two to three years. It has been found most useful both by printers, print suppliers and print buyers and remains in good demand.

The association had the honour of organising the 29th All India Printers’ Conference, in conjunction with Printpack-2001 Exhibition, at Hotel Taj Palace and India Habitat Centre, during March 10-13, 2001. The conference, which was inaugurated by Mr. I. K. Gujral, attracted 419 delegates from India and abroad and covered the latest print technology addressed by speakers from all parts of the world.

The year 2003 is marked by a new direction to the activities of all the associations of printers in India when 24th February, the birthday of Johannes Gutenberg, Father of the Art of Printing, was declared as Printers’ Day. This was an opportune moment for DPA to fulfil its moral obligations to the society, especially the downtrodden people with meagre resources. Since 2003, on 24th February, DPA has been organising free general health, eye, heart and dental check-up camps as well as langar for workers and general public. In addition, educational tours to big printing units are also organised for students of local printing technology institutes.


The association completed 50 years of eventful service to printers of Delhi as well as the Printing Industry of India and proudly celebrated its Golden Jubilee at India Habitat Centre on April 9, 2004. During the day a Technical Seminar on latest Printing Technology was held where eminent speakers from India and abroad addressed over 200 delegates. The evening had a gala awards night where the Chief Guest, Mr. Vijay Kumar Chopra and the Guest of Honour, Mr. Naseeb Singh, gave away over 70 awards to proud winners of Delhi and north India. Many industry stalwarts were also felicitated with trophies. A special Golden Jubilee issue of Delhi Printer was released to commemorate 50 years of DPA. The function ended with an enjoyable cultural show and dinner.

On 17th March 2007, the Delhi Printers’ Association, supported by all associations of North India, organised a Technical Seminar on Digital Printing Demand which was a huge success as the hall was jampacked with nearly 300 delegates from Delhi and North India. Speakers from Xerox India, EFI India and Amity University dealt with all aspects of Digital Printing. The topics included: “Aspect of Digital Printing and its Demand in India” and “Various Applications of Digital Printing - Variable Data Processing.”

On the same evening a gala Awards Function was held to give awards to winners in association’s 2nd North India Awards for Excellence in Printing. Out of 750 entries received from printers of North India (550 from Delhi and 200 from other northern cities), 97 first, second and merit awards were given at a glittering function spiced with cultural show. Chief Guest and Guests of Honour included the Presidents and Past Presidents of All India Federation of Master Printers and Presidents of supporting associations of North India. The hall was overflowing with about 400 delegates.

On September 28 & 29, 2007 DPA hosted the 195th G. C. meeting and 54th AGM of AIFMP at Hotel Jaypee Palace – Agra. This proved to be the most successful and historic G C meeting.

From May 2009 DPA launched the publication of Masik Samachar Patrika - a monthly newsletter in Hindi - to provide the members with the latest news of the Printing Industry and about the important activities of the association. The newsletter has proved worthwhile.

For the benefit of printers and other entrepreneurs the Ministry of MSME and DPA had organised two short-term courses on Export Management at DPA’s Printers Bhawan in June and July 2008. About 50 students completed the course and got Ministry’s certificates. The association regularly intimates the members about the various beneficial schemes introduced by the Ministry of MSME from time to time through its bimonthly Delhi Printer and Masik Samachar Patrika.

To keep the patriotic spirit alive by remembering the daring sacrifices made by freedom fighters, DPA had organised Rashtriya Utsav on August 9, 2009 to celebrate the 62nd Anniversary of India’s Independence. The function comprised a highly entertaining song, dance and drama presentation highlighting nationalistic fervour.

On the basis of 90% contribution by Ministry of MSME and 10% by DPA, the Ministry has recently approved setting up of a Printing and Packaging Cluster under the Micro and Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP). It is hoped that a Print Technology Training and Research Centre will be launched at Printers Bhawan in the near future.

The activities of 50 years cannot be clubbed into a few pages. The sweat and toil of pioneer printers and the growth of DPA is itself a mammoth feat. As you go through old issues of Delhi Printer and talk to the stalwarts, history seems to unfold itself. Every occasion, every event had its moments and anecdotes – the struggle and the triumph of the spirit. It is a fraction of that indefatigable spirit of DPA which we have tried to capture in these pages and acquaint you with the growth of an organization from scratch to its present stature. The prosperity and technological excellence of the individual printer is amply reflected in the collective body.

As the association has celebrated its Golden Jubilee, it is time to reflect on the achievements and pitfalls as also to set new goals. Unlike its leaders, the association is timeless and the show goes on.