P B Kulkarni: Homage to a true educationist

With deep sorrow, be informed that Prof Dr Padmakar Bhagwant Kulkarni, popularly known as Dr Pa Bha Kulkarni, passed away on Friday 24 October 2014. PaBha was an iconic print personality, who boosted the cause of education in the print industry. Born and brought up in Pune; his career was studded with scholarships and PhDs and MScs from Germany and England.

Pa Bha completed his education from Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s school. At an early age he selected print as his career. He travelled to Germany and got a doctorate in printing. But he was not enamoured by the easy and elite life of Europe. He returned to his karmabhoomi in India and set up the Institute of Printing Technology in Pune Vidyarthi Griha.

This is the same school where he was schooled and he is known for the work in educating the downtrodden class of society. He set up an Engineering college in Pune for printing technology as well as other branches.

Kulkarni was the president of the All India Federation of Master Printers in 1994-95, which is national level apex body of printers’ associations of India. When necessity arose, in 2002-03, he did not hesitate to accept the presidential post at the Maharashtra Mudran Parishad, the state-level body of printers’ associations in Maharashtra.

He played a crucial role in setting up the Maharashtra Mudran Parishad’s Institute of Printing Technology at Panvel (40 kms from Mumbai). Without insufficient infrastructure, the MSBTE awarded AICTE approved course of Diploma in Printing Technology. This was on the basis of Pa Bha’s credentials.

This inspired me to accept the challenge to become the chairman of this Institute after his retirement. Also it gave me the courage to accept the affiliation of the deemed university TISS to start the degree course in MMPIPTR. This could happen because of the foundation laid by the great Dr PaBha Kulkarni.

On behalf of the printing fraternity, I pay homage to this great educationist.

RIP.