When you read your early morning newspaper, besides half tones and colour reproduction you look for...
Ads for new product launches.

When and how do you begin your day?
I am up from the bed at 6:30, then proceed to make one cup of tea for myself, the only thing which is consistent. Prayers, breakfast, and the other chores follow as per the meetings scheduled for the day. 

Do you plan your day, meticulously? Or is it ad hoc? Or is there a blue print for the day?
Usually, it’s planned a day in advance but it does keep changing as the day starts. Most of the times, 70% of it is as per the planned schedule.

One person with whom you like to share your daily drive to office. Why?
At the moment, myself, because I believe, we are our own best friend and advisor, too.

What’s the first thing you do on entering the office?
Greet my team and motivate them with some compliments.

How frequently do you interact with print production supervisors? What do you discuss, commonly?
Almost daily. We discuss the current job status, future plans and percussions for any special job.

With the fierce competition, high cost of entry and above all - the increasing threat from other media, do you find that traditional ink-on-paper is facing a serious threat to its survival?
I think we should strive for excellence to stand out; the question for survival would not exist in that case in any aspect.

Which press does the best printing in India? And why?
I am always inspired by EIH Press. During my tenure with EIH Press, I have observed and learned from them about quality consciousness and hospitality for client service. In spite of the world-class facility, they have a strong philosophy “quality always follows quality” - the words by Major M S Oberoi, the founder of the group. R Shankar has devoted his best to ensure these values are reflected in the press.

How do you rate your press as compared to leading printers the world-over?
I think our clients should rate us, that’s more important.

If you won Rs 10 crore through Playwin which printing equipment would you invest in? Why?
Hard earned money always gives us inner happiness and we use them wisely.

Today - we hear of innumerable printing presses closing down or being on the verge of closing down. Why is this happening? And - what does this portend for the future of the industry?
The future is good, as India is a big market and there will be enough volume to feed up the offset market. I think we should focus on our strength rather than watching other players.

If we are inclined towards the needs of our client and offer them quality, innovation and service, they will surely give us opportunities for business as they grow. And as print partners their survival should be an integral part of our life rather than we struggling for our own survival.

But most of the printers follow others and aggressively engage in price war rather than exploring new possibilities within their strength. Hence, all their quality standards deteriorate and the industry is put to blame.

The best breakthrough in print technology in the past hundred years?
In my 15 years of experience, I think HP Indigo and HP Latex Inks are the best.

Your favourite adda? Or paan? Also which is your cell phone? Pen? Car? Wrist watch?

Adda - Big chill – Khan market

Cell – iphone – 5

Pen – Mont Blanc

Car – Toyota Altis Automatic

Wrist Watch – Swatch

For a working lunch if you meet Johanes Gutenberg (the father of modern printing), what would you talk to him about?
I would like to listen to him rather than talking.

How do you motivate your sales and marketing team? Any new promotion strategy?
Appreciating them and communicating to them that I am not different from them on personal or professional basis. Small things matter a lot. We celebrate the birthday of every employee at the same day or end of month whichever is feasible. Keep playing some motivational games often and going out for movies or lunch break. We have some target-based incentives for all.

The most frequently used mantra in your organisation? Your corporate philosophy.
“Manas ki jaat, sabhe ekko pehchanbo” these are the words by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which means, all human beings are equal and should not be discriminated on the basis of cast or colour and should be respected equally. They all are HIS creation. So “Humanity first” is the mantra we follow.

The craziest deadline, you've come across?
One new car launch – Media Booklet. During the winter season, I entered my bedroom at 10pm to receive a call from a senior officer to design and print 100 copies of media booklet. I called up my team and reached office at 12:30 am with the client. We completed the designing, printing and fabrication in eight hours. The client happily walked out of our office with a thank you note, sharp at 8:00 am. That was not less than winning an award for our team.

Your favorite excuse to your family when you’re late?
I do not need to give them an excuse now. They are used to it for years.

Please comment on the technology and machines (press / prepress / postpress / others) that you have invested in, in the past few years?
Mostly into digital printing and post presses.

In India – the two most important barriers are technology and cost! What advice do you have for the printer?
Technology upgradation is very important but the equipment’s are too costly and by the time one may recover the ROI, there is some new product launched. It’s important to know the right time and right direction before investing in. 

How do you stay in touch with technological developments? In this sense – please comment on your official view on ctp technology and digital printing.
I must say, PrintWeek India keeps sending us daily updates on domestic and international happenings, via email and through the magazine, time to time.

“Knowledge shared is the knowledge doubled” So yes, thanks to the PWI team members for this great effort.

CTP – has improvised on quality as possibilities of dot gain and loosing details on the image today is very less. Delivery time, quality and efficiency have been far better than the old days.

Digital – Time is money and digital technology has great impact on this statement. Beside quality, fast turnaround time has played a major role in making it a big success and that’s the reason that the market for digital printing in India is growing more than 100% every year.

One person with whom you would like to have a FACE TO FACE.
“Khud se khud ki pehchan hojaye bas itna hi taruf kafi hain”