During our visit to Tanveer Press in Lucknow, we met Jawahar Lal Bhargava, owner of Swastik Printing Press and present president of the recently formed Lucknow Printers Association (LPA). Just like Nomani, Bhargava has seen many transitions in the printing scenario of the Uttar Pradesh capital. According to Bhargava, the digitization of commercially printed products, largely during the pandemic, affected many businesses in the city.
Bhargava joined the family printing business at a very young age after the untimely demise of his father. With almost 60 years of experience, Bhargava has been a printer, and an educator, and now represents the LPA. He is a member of the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) with his ongoing printing business based in Lucknow’s Kapoorthala area.
He expressed concern that not many are entering the printing business nowadays. The last entrants were before the pandemic. Bhargava said, “Before the pandemic struck, everything was positive. The entire printing landscape changed after the pandemic. We (him and Nomani) have seen at least 50 known printers shut. There is no count of unorganized printers and photocopiers who shut shop. Everyone shifted to other businesses after selling their machines.”
Before 2020, new installations, growing production, supplies, and jobs were an everyday thing. No one is starting a new printing business now and the new generation doesn’t want to join the segment, he said. “These days, a printer relies solely on job work as bulk projects aren’t happening much. “My printing press was equipped with advanced machines and technology, which peaked at its time. I used to directly import it. In those times, we had volume, technology, and a good margin. Eventually, we had to sell off several as they had turned obsolete,” Bhargava said.
According to Bhargava, uncertainty rules in present times as any printer can shut down business and no one will bat an eye. “We have retained some business from banks and some government offices but none of them are bulk orders. While printing is seeing new hope in the growing packaging industry, most of Uttar Pradesh is still not able to get a good footing due to a lack of knowledge and infrastructure. No one is sure what the future holds for the printers in Lucknow but we hope for the best.”
