Ad Maiorem PRINT Gloriam - Creating Pride in PRINT

I went to a Jesuit school which completes 150 years of glorious existence in 2013. I returned to school for the sesquicentennial celebrations after eons; and visited two of my favourite spots. The library which was run by the indefatigable Mrs Khan who inculcated in me the love for books at the age of nine. Words spoke to me, shared their secrets; and at that moment, whole universes opened. I became, irrevocably, a reader. And books were my best friends.

04 Aug 2012 | By Samir Lukka

The other place I visited was the school church where I stared at the motto of the Jesuit order: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, which is Latin for the great glory of God. This motto, I adapted later in my life as Ad Maiorem PRINT Gloriam.

On 28 July, it was a pleasure to see some of that “Print Glory” being realised as an organiser of the PrintWeek India Awards. This is the fourth edition of the Awards. And for me, the Jury Day remains the best part of the Awards process. To see, jury members recognise the power of print; is sheer joy.

It’s music to our ears when we hear a brand or product manager say, we have boosted our print investment by 150%. Or how they have enhanced aesthetics, by re-designing their brochure by using the latest ink grade or hybrid print medium. I don’t know what other Awards aim to do, but we endeavour to: Create Pride In Print - and thereby promote print in all its manifestations.

Our interactions with print buyers and end customers during the Jury day (and even before and after) makes it clear that a larger eco-system is using PWI Awards as a reference point, pointing them in the direction of print companies are leading the way in all the 19 Quality categories of Indian print; and six Performance categories.

My team and I would like to spread the good word; and reach out to a considerably wider audience.

I hope we can achieve it. Is it an impossible task? I don’t think so.

I started with school; so let me end with one of the things I was taught: Ad impossibilia nemo tenetur. That’s Latin for “No one is obligated to perform the impossible”. ... But that doesn’t mean one should not try.

I thank the patrons and sponsors who have supported our print adventure in 2012. Canon India come in for special mention for “being there, always”.

The Awards will be held on Thursday 30 August at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai. I hope to see YOU there.