Pragati’s founder Hanumantha Rao passes away

The 91-year old Rao was a multi-dimensional personality, doing everything – from working in fields to working as a journalist, acting in films with N T Rama Rao to participating in the freedom movement, for which he was jailed for three years.

 

In 1962 he started his printing unit, Pragati Art Printers with a small letterpress printing machine after which he never looked back. Today, Pragati is one of the well-known printing brand not only in India but the world.

 

Hanumantha Rao has over the years received many awards, including lifetime achievement awards. In the year 2010, Pragati bagged the prestigious Sappi International Printer of the Year 2010 award for the third time in a row. Hanumantha Rao received the Sappi Elephant Award.

 

Narandra Paruchuri, his eldest son, in his speech had said, “My father who has started this company has received the Elephant. This is a moment of great pride. He started with a small machine, 48 years ago, and today he has received the award as the best in the world. It has been a long journey.”

 

PrintWeek India extends its deepest sympathies to all in the Pragati family.