As a founding member and as the current president of IPAMA, he was the driving force behind the success of PrintPack India 2016. As a testament to his organisational skills, Sheth was elected the president of the Asia Print Association during China Print on 10 May. It was a milestone in IPAMA’s history, confirming the Indian association’s presence in the international printing fraternity.

Sheth, born in 20 February 1942 in Rajkot, Gujarat, learned the basics of printing under the aegis of his father Shantilal Sheth, a scholar of Jainism and Pali texts, and a life-long Gandhian, who started a printing press in Beawar, Rajasthan under Gurukul School, of which he was an administrator, to publish his own literary work. This is where Sheth mastered the art of manual composing. Later, Shantilal Sheth started a press at Kingsway Camp, with three letterpress cylinders and three treadle printing machines.

Since then, it has been a long journey to establish and run Sheth Printograph in 1963, which manufactures finishing kit. In all this, Sheth’s guiding credo has always been: ‘Be Indian. Buy Indian.’ In a conversation with PrintWeek India, he once said, “My concern is why we can’t manufacture what we need. If the Europeans and Americans and for that matter Chinese can do it, we are technically capable of producing advanced products.”

Noel D’Chuna, managing editor, PrintWeek India, recounted how he spent the final day of China Print with Sheth. “He very kindly asked us to join him and shared his thoughts,” D’Chuna said, “We discussed how the crowd was thin on the last two days of the show, compared in PrintPack India, where there was a strong footfall on the last two days. He also spoke about the Chinese model of buying the design, get the parts manufactured, assemble and sell, and how the print equipment manufacturers could produce a machine in a small workshop at affordable cost.

Tributes for HV Sheth

Ramu Ramanathan, editor, PrintWeek India: I met Sheth Saab recently in his office in Noida. He was tip-top. We had home cooked food. His children Sonal and Neeraj also joined us. He was very concerned about the policies of the central government; especially its impact on Made in India for the SME sector. He had returned from China and was concerned that as an industry, ‘we don't have an iota of a China strategy.’ He had big plans for the next edition of PrintPack India. And ensuring IPAMA committee members reach out to other industry bodies. He had started a dialogue with the top manufacturers in the flexible packaging industry in Gujarat, plus the ink and paper majors. As we exited his office, he promised to share stories of his early days as ‘a struggler with a briefcase’ who travelled to remote corners of India. That was the agenda for ‘next time’. Shashtang Salaam Sir. Till ‘next time.’

Suresh Reddiar, ST Reddiar I feel very sad. My big brother Sheth was my caretaker when I was studying in Delhi in 1975 for five years. And almost every day he used to take me in his house for dinner. The love and affection I can't forget. My condolences.

Deepak Chawla, TechNova Imaging Systems: Very shocking! Still can't believe this. Shared many wonderful, warm and affectionate moments with him. A huge loss to the Indian printing industry, IPAMA and me personally. Sincere-most condolences. May his divine soul rest eternally in the heavenly abode.

Tushar Dhote, Dhote Offset: I had the pleasure to be with Mr Seth during Print China this year. He was my bus mate and we used to discuss a lot on the print industry in India and how the two Associations — IPAMA and AIFMP — should join hand together in support of the print industry. I am sure to miss his humble nature and his experience in the industry.

Vijay Adlakha, Infinity Advertising Services: My heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Mr Seth. May the god give courage to his family to bear the loss.

Som Sapru, IPAMA: My heartfelt condolences. May God give courage to his family to bear the loss. May his soul RIP.