Inauguration of KMPA’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Fourth of January, 2020, was a special day for Kerala Master Printers Association. The year 2020 marked the association’s much-awaited Golden Jubilee Celebrations, showcasing a grand portfolio of achievements of KMPA in the printing industry.  The event was organised at the spacious The Versailles hall of hotel The Renai Cochin, Palarivattom, Ernakulam.

The occasion was graced by Dibyajyoti Kalita, President of All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), who was welcomed by Hon. General Secretary of KMPA, Biju Jose. Sarada Rajendran, wife of late M. Rajendran, founder President of KMPA was warmly welcomed by KMPA President R. Gopakumar as the guest of honour. On this moment O. Venugopal, Co-ordinator of KMPA had this to say. “Amma came and blessed this occasion, despite her ill-health. We are truly grateful to her”.

Special invitee C. Ravinder Reddy, Vice President (South) of AIFMP spoke about the nascent Telengana Offset Printers Association (TOPA), of which he is also the President.
Mr. Reddy stressed on the motivation given by KMPA to improve printing processes in the state, and printing education to students in Telengana.

All three distinguished guests,
Mr. Kalita, Smt. Rajendran, and Mr. Reddy were felicitated and honoured for their invaluable contribution towards the printing industry.

Past Presidents and Past Hon. General Secretaries of KMPA were honoured for their leadership and guidance. Past President late M. Rajendran (period 1970-1988) and founder member of KMPA, was posthumously honoured, with his wife Sarada Rajendran receiving the honour on his behalf. Other Past Presidents who were honoured were
R. Suresh (1988-2008), O. Venugopal (2008-2012), Joseph Muttathottil (2012-2014), G. Venugopal (2014-2016), and S. Saji (2016-2018). Past Hon. General Secretaries who were honoured were P. R. Nair (1988-1998), P.S. Rajan (2012-2014), D. Manmohan Shenoy (2014-2016), and Rajesh G. (2016-2018).

21 senior employees of KMPA members, each of whom have completed over 35 years of service in the print industry were awarded at the function. Those who have reached a milestone of 50 years amongst them include A.K. Puthussery, S.T. Reddiar & Sons (62 years); Radhakrishnan V. and E.G. Sasidharan, Anaswara Offset (P) Ltd (52 years); and Narayanan Nair, Rajsree Industrial Printer (50 Years). 13 KMPA members, who have been into the print business for more than 50 years, were also awarded for standing the test of time, with their dedication and passion in the field of printing. Members who honoured at the event were:

S.T. Reddiar & Sons, Ernakulam (estd. 1886);

Valavi & Co., Ernakulam (estd. 1899);

St. Francis Press, Ernakulam (estd. 1926);

Ambal Offset Printers, Palakkad (estd. 1936);

Jai Hind Printers, Aluva (estd. 1946);

SB Press (P) Ltd., Thiruvananthapuram (estd. 1947);

St. Joseph’s Press, Thiruvananthapuram (estd. 1948);

The Swaraj Printers, Kochi (estd. 1948);

The Union Press, Thrissur (estd. 1952);

Ebenezer Printers, Thrissur (estd. 1958);

Vivid Offset Printers, Thrissur (estd. 1962);

Spartan Printers, Alappuzha (estd. 1970); and Viani Printings, Ernakulam (estd. 1966).

Both Mr. Kalita and Mr. Reddy spoke highly in praise of the great work done by the members of KMPA to promote the printing fraternity as a whole with their innovative and clairvoyant approach.

KMPA celebrated this event as a great awakening for promoting the best days in the printing industry for the year 2020. President of KMPA, R. Gopakumar, presided over the function.

The celebrations were drawn to an end by some great entertainment for which the credit solely goes to the ladies forum of KMPA.