Mehra also stepped down from the presidentship of All India Printing Ink Manufacturers’ Association (AIPIMA), a role he had assumed a year ago.

Mehra joined the printing ink industry in 1970 after completing his post-graduate studies. “I told my fellow batchmates that I had joined the ink industry, they asked me – what is ink?,” said Mehra.” He added, “I decided that I will work for six months, earn some monies than look for a better opportunity. Those six months never ended, it just continued.”

Does he regret joining the printing ink industry? “Not for a second,” Mehra said, speaking to PrintWeek India on the sidelines of the AIPIMA’s annual general meeting event on 11 August 2017. “It’s been a most satisfying journey and during the course, I have only met friends and made friends.”

But he is critical of one trait, which he thinks the printing industry, or for that matter, the printing industry will be better off without, and that is unhealthy competition. “There’s very little appetite for profitability. People don’t have confidence in themselves, and they think only price will help them sail through. They probably do business, but at the end of the day, they don’t make money.”

Mehra, however, advised the adoption of technology, which he said was restricted to a few print companies. “Those who have invested in the right technology are growing, and there are those who are sitting with obsolete technology and they have no jobs. There’s a lack of understanding of what will help them grow.”

Mehra said he will be spending rest of his time honing his singing talent. “If I wasn’t in this industry, I would have been a singer. Before I joined the ink industry I used to sing, and I even do it now, but not on a professional level. I have shortlisted a guruji under whom I will train.”

He concluded on a lighter note, saying, “Sona toh hai, usko chamkaneki zaarurat hai.”

 

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