A legendary figure passes away

By Print & Publishing Last updated Aug 2, 2018

V Subramanian, former President, MPLA & AIFMP, passed away on February 11, 2018 in Chennai. A go getter, he was in his times youngest to become the President of MPLA & AIFMP. Innovative and social minded by nature, in whatever he was involved, he introduced out of box thinking. When in MPLA, he was the initiator of PAMEX and first B.E. Printing course in Anna University, Chennai. Feeling the need for competition of quality printing in absence of Ministry of I&B Print Awards which was discontinued, he along with Manoj Mehta and S R Sharma (BMPA), initiated NAEP (National Awards for Excellence in Printing). Both PAMEX and NAEP have come to stay.

Education was next to his heart. He initiated Scholarship Scheme for rank holders in IPT, Tharamani, Chennai. Students from both IPT & Anna University often consulted him. His father, S. Viswanathan, Founder Secretary, AIFMP, established S. Viswanathan (Printers & Publishers) Pvt. Ltd. which mainly printed and published college books. Later, Subramanian printed Madras University question papers and soon came to be known for the company’s system of leak proof operation.

Finding the need for dissemination of knowledge among printers, he initiated along with seniors in the printing industry formation of The Printing Technologists Forum in 1981 which is functioning actively and now in its 37th year as per his ideals. He was its third president during 2000 and 2002. Moving with times, Subramanian’s elder daughter Nandita along with her husband Sreekumar runs a Digital Unit by name Bhavish Graphics successfully at the famed Chetpet premises. Subramanian was its MD first and then its Chairman.

I had the privilege of knowing him in close quarters first as Executive Secretary, MPLA (Associate Editor, Coramandal Printer) and then as Executive Secretary, NAEP. An open minded person, he gave full freedom for functioning keeping the final word with him. Personally, I have lost a friend, philosopher and guide in him.

May his good soul Rest in Peace!

–D. Ramalingam