History of Anand Press

Historical Background of Anand Press

The soul of the enterprise was Fr Luis Bertran, S.J., the then Administrator of the Bombay Archdiocese and Superior Regular of the Bombay Mission. Br Francis Escofet, S.J., then 27 years young, and six young men of the Anand boarding were sent to the Examiner Press of Bombay, in 1926, for a few-months' training: two as compositors, two for the machines, and two for binding. They were Paul Vahala of Chikodra, who worked in the press in unbroken service till he retired on 15 February 1963; Marcel Narshi of Boriavi, who left to join the Railway but was back on the staff after a year and stayed on till his retirement on 31 March 1971; Gonzalo Sava of Dali, who was in the Press from 1926 to 1949; Eugene Patelia of Anghadi (Thasra Ta.); Sama and Anton Rama of Bhaiej. they were put up at St Stanislaus, Bandra, and commuted daily to Dalai Street.”

- Br Escofet

"The founder, Br Francisco Escofet, started the Press in a typical example of Jesuit- obedience, and the blessings that have followed must owe a great deal to that beginning. He had no special preparation or calling to this line, and the brief training he received along with his six boys did not particularly equip him to found and direct a press. His dedication did the rest.

This dedication was complete and whole-hearted. It used to be said that you could set your watch by the time he left his room to go to the press morning and afternoon, always and invariably at the exact time. Each morning, too, before starting work, he would kneel in front of his desk and offer the day's effort to God in prayer. The day before his death, 11 March 1969, he reported for work as usual. When his mind was disturbed in delirium, his twin obsessions were the Mass and his work at the Press.

This single-mindedness of his dedication was further confirmed for the absence of any takeover troubles when, after being so many years the sole manager of a press he had founded, he served under four successive managers with a grace that showed no signs of strain.

It was a proud moment in his life when the Jesuit Superior General, Fr Pedro Arrupe, visited the Press in January !967. He anxiously waited at the door with a garland in his hands. But Fr Arrupe, appraised of the brother’s long life of dedicated service, seized the garland, and, draped it around the brother saying: "It is not me but you who deserve it."

The Government permission to start the Press was given by (or thanks to the good offices of, we shall never know) an official who later on (1914) joined the Society of Jesus (Goa-Poona Mission) and in his old age, liked to tell the story, Fr Michael Hoare. The Press was formally opened in November of that year, with one cylinder machine and one treadle machine.

"That fledgling press differed vastly from today's large and modern installations, it consisted of a simple shed, with no walls, but only a wire-netting that let in the dust of the surrounding fields. The machinery was of the most primitive and, of course, bought second, hand. There was no electricity. Everything had to be worked by hand - or by foot, like the old Nebiolo Cylinder machine operated for years by Conrad, a blind man, a veritable museum piece today, reverently kept but still in service, used for pulling proofs."

Eager to start publishing, the team of six youngsters, under the guidance of Br Francisco Escofet, put their skills to the test by producing their first issue of Doot. It was released on 1st November 1926. In 1927, Br J. Serra was appointed, to assist the Press Manager, but he soon left for Spain, from 1941 to 1946 Br Augustus Lobo joined the Press as assistant to the Manager. Within twenty years since its inception, thanks to the strenuous and dedicated work of the staff, the Press contributed greatly to the economic development of the Vice-Province,

In January 1946, Fr Liuis M. Espasa, having completed his Theology was sent to Anand, as assistant Parish Priest to Fr Suria, who was also local superior, and as Minister of the house. Fr Espasa was interested in missionary work in the villages, like the other pioneers. So, Fr Suria entrusted him with seven villages. After 16 months of working together with Sr Jerome, Fr Espasa succeeded in bringing the village Savadpura to the faith.

In June 1946, Fr Espasa was appointed Manager of the Press with the full co¬operation of good Br Escofet - who rejoiced at every little improvement that took place at the Press. Fr Espasa was a descendant of prestigious publishers.

At the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Anand Press in 1976, Fr Espasa recalled: "The founder and first manager, that great pioneer, Br Escofet gave it many years of selfless service and brought it to existence in the midst of great difficulties. I remember very specially his boundless generosity and cooperation in the five years I was manager after him."

Fr Espasa was told expressly by Fr Vilallonga to undertake the development work of the Press. Fr Vilallonga further asked him to five the task top priority and to seek his guidance as Mission Superior. Till then Anand Press was attached to the Anand Parish, under the guidance of the Parish Priest, who was also the Superior of the Anand community residence.

Expansion

Electricity and proper installations came in 1947. Very soon better and faster machinery was bought, and so the little shed in which the Press was housed became too small for the purpose. The number of workers soon grew from 17 to 44, the shed was very considerably enlarged and the output was soon double that of the previous year’s Paper could be bought in bulk, even though there was no proper storage space, because it was rapidly used up. Thus, the growth of the Anand Press continued unabated till it became the first printing press of the district.

In 1948 Br Didacus was added to the staff, but he left after a short period and was later on replaced by Br Nicolas Hernandez, who had just arrived from Spain with a thorough training in printing.

Staff enhancement

Fr Joaquin, a freshman in mission work, made up in commitment what he lacked in technological know-how. When he first encountered Anand Press, he found himself confronted with a huge new edifice, almost empty, with more than fifty workers waiting for orders - and there were heaps of orders -some already in the machines, others to be shuffled, assessed and accepted or dismissed. There were a number of customers waiting for consultation or discussion.

In the course of 1953, three more young Brothers joined the staff: Saul Abril, Manolo Eneriz and Antonio Rabelia, freshly come and freshly trained in the various lines of the graphic arts. In 1956, Br Hernandez succeeded Fr More as Manager and continued the work of modernizing the press. New Heidelberg machines replaced the old. The volume of work increased rapidly and steadily. Commercial firms and educational institutions that wanted good printing turned to Anand Press for their requirements and became stable customers. Their test-books and attractive School magazines spread the good name of Anand Press in Gujarat and beyond.

With this increase in work, the building that looked so large in 1950 became too small and an annexe was added by the side to house the binding department and for storage. Again, the welfare of the workers was not forgotten, and Br Hernandez conceived and prepared an ambitious housing plan, which he could not, however, implement. In 1966, after ten years as Manager, he was called to start a new technical venture and his place was taken by Br Abril, who was called back from his new assignment in Pune. By that time Br Martin Macwan had taken the direction of the Binding Department, and was later replaced by Br Malcolm Rodrigues,

Br Rabelia had been especially trained in Offset printing, but an Offset plant could not be instailed till 1974. With that, Anand Press became a fully equipped Press.

Welfare schemes

The welfare of the staff received utmost attention by the management. In 1950 a plot of land was bought opposite Canisius House. The Press employees were allotted plots and houses were built for them. And so it was that the first housing colony financed by the Press sprang up in 1953 and was named Presspura.

"In those times, it was not very easy to get houses for the people," explains Br Manolo Eneriz. "So, our scheme was to help the workers to have their own houses... deducting every month a small sum from their salary. So, today, these workers are the owners of their houses.

Several years back we could get help from Campaign Against Hunger and we started another colony for the young workers. That was a project to help workers get a house at a very low price. At that time, already, the material, cement, bricks, and the rest, was very expensive... beyond the means of the workers. So, we built the houses in such a way that they could rent part of house, and with that money, and a little more of their own, they could pay for the house without too many problems for their living.

After some more years, the new generation of workers was also asking for a new housing scheme. With the money we had recovered from the previous projects, we started the third colony, St Xavier's Colony."13.

"As for the welfare of its staff, the facilities enjoyed by the workers of Anand Press compared quite favourably with those of other press workers in Gujarat. Several housing Colonies have been built for them in the course of the iast 25 years (1976).

The last lot of 32, a real mini-village, was inaugurated in 1974. The plot was bought by Br Hernandes, but it was Br Abril who took care of the construction. Each house has a verandah, three rooms, toilet and bathing rooms, running water and electricity and even a little garden."14

Labour responses

Ail was not smooth sailing, though. The early 50s were a time of labour unrest and moves towards workers' unions. And Press had implemented Labour Schemes even before they became Law. The new management at the Press sought the welfare of its workers in the matter of: pay scales, provident fund, gratuity, bonus, life insurance policies. Workers' Credit Society, housing societies and the like. Nevertheless, some new employees fell in the hand of ruthless Union Agencies and tried to disturb the peace. But things settled down eventually through deft handling.

"The workers have responded very well, and barring a few individual exceptions, inevitable in the normal course of events, they have shown great loyalty and spirit of cooperation. The family spirit is noticeable. For one thing, there has never been a strike in these 50 years (1976), and what labour troubles there have been could be taken as no more than teething troubles. Here, too, tradition counts, a tradition that is ensured by the long continuity of the staff.

There are four stalwarts who have served more than 30 years: Francis Marcus, Andreas Philip, John Carl and Marcel Lakha; seven have been on the rolls for over 25 years, 5 between 20 and 25, and 16 between 10 and 20, making a total of 30 out of the total strength of 56 with a service record of more than 10 years. The average length being of 13 years of service per worker."

Quality printing

Good machinery cannot by itself secure good printing. The human element that has to handle it needs to be toned-up. This was done, too. After a deal of time-consuming research and study, the so-called incentive scheme was devised, offering incentives to the workers for both output and quality of work, with very satisfying results.

Br S Abril noted: "There was a time when we found it hard to produce quality printing and get the price of the cost. The present quality consciousness hardly existed, and those who did have it did not expect to find it in a press located in an obscure village such as ours. Yet we tried to maintain our standards in spite of such odd, without falling in for cheap and easy production. Such policy has paid. We would be nowhere today if we had chosen the easy way."

Training programmes

To train the boys and give them gainful employment, and to improve the social and economic conditions of its staff has been one of the primary aims of Anand Press from its inception. This is why Br Escofet did not go alone to Bombay at the start, but with a group of boys; and all received the same training.

"According to the statistics available (in 1976) 384 men have passed through Anand Press. Out of these, 56 are in active service at present; 4 have established printing presses of their own; 59 are working in other presses, 2 of them abroad; 6 have died while in service and 21 after retirement or leaving. The rest have taken up other professions such as teachers, clerks, etc. There are 15 apprentices, and a hostel to give them free accommodation was inaugurated at the beginning of this year, the Press's latest effort in this line."