AIFMP honours 12 print teachers

The teachers who were honoured with the Presidential Print Awards are: SK Datta (Former Principal RIPT, Jadavpur); Prof Arun Kiran Pal (Former HOD Printing Technology, Jadavpur University); Rishi K Uniyal (Former Principal, MIPT, Pune); D Nagarjuna (Former HOD, Institute of Printing Technology, Secunderabad); Prof N Rajeswari (Former HOD Printing Technology, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai); PP Dinesan (Former Principal IPT and Government Polytechnic, Shornur); M Dhanesh (Former HOD Printing Technology, Dr T M A Pie Polytechnic, Manipal); Prof KP Rao (Former HOD Printing Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal); AV Sreerama Reddy (Former Principal, Government Institute of Printing, Bengaluru); K Devarajan (Former Principal, Krishna Institute of Printing Technology, Calicut); Tarekeswar Prasad (Former Principal, NRIPT, Allahabad) and BN Mathur (Former Principal, NRIPT, Allahabad).   

The background to the virtual award function is interesting. The AIFMP was planning a virtual meeting on a technical subject in association with IC (International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic Media and Management. As shared by Kamal Chopra, president of AIFMP, "While discussing the planning for  this technical training meet, we suddenly hit upon the idea that since 5 September is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in India, why not recognise the print teachers who can be considered as the roots of development of printing in India."  

The proposal was discussed with GN Vishvakumar, the honorary general secretary of the AIFMP who appreciated the idea. Simultaneously, Prof Dr Rajendrakumar Anayath, and Dr Anjan Baral select and prepare a list of eminent and senior print teachers. Kamal Chopra said, "No one from AIFMP was involved for this selection, because this is entirely a super-specialised academic matter."

The criteria for selecting the teachers on the list was simple. Chopra shared with PrintWeek that "These are the senior most teachers, selected by the impartial committee who with their dedication and commitment tried to produce the bright students."

Chopra said, "No effort was ever made to recognise the teachers responsible for the revolution in printing in India and to remember the contribution of the masters of this great art. As per my voice I feel that such recognition is necessary to spread the spirit of doing something unique for the upliftment of print in the world."

The chief guest for the Acknowledge the Root program was Prof Dr Anastasios E Politis, the chairman of IC - the International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management; and the guests of honour were Prof Dr Rajendrakumar Anayath, vice chancellor of DCRUST University, Sonepat and BPS Mahila Univeristy, Khanpur Kalan plus Prof Dr Sc Vilko Zilak, emeritus professor in the field of graphic technology, Croatia.