Shivam Saini Wins Prestigious B R Chowdhri Gold Medal at CUH

In a heartwarming celebration of talent and dedication, the second edition of the B R Chowdhri Memorial Print Competition for students of printing and packaging at the Central University of Haryana (CUH) took place on October 17, 2024. This prestigious event, a testament to the enduring legacy of the legendary B R Chowdhri, continues to inspire and shape the future of young minds in the field of print and packaging technology.

B R Chowdhri, a beloved post-press teacher at the Northern Regional Institute of Printing Technology (NRIPT), spent years nurturing the next generation of print professionals before serving as Press Manager at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The Offset Printers' Association (OPA), in a fitting tribute to his pioneering contributions to print education in India, instituted this annual competition to carry forward his mission of advancing modern print practices and empowering the youth.

This year, the competition attracted 46 registrants, but only 28 students took up the challenge of the preliminary written MCQ test. From this talented group, five outstanding students—Aaditya Kesarwani, Shivam Saini, Karan Singh, Akash, and Kodle Narender—earned their place in the final round, a thrilling oral competition that showcased their knowledge, skills, and passion for the industry.

The final, held in the CUH seminar hall, saw the contestants face a distinguished five-member jury, comprising industry veterans: S K Joshi, Former Business Manager ICAR, New Delhi; K B Nagpal, Former Principal Technical Officer, CSIR-NISCPER, New Delhi; Sumesh Sharma, Former Dy. General Manager, The Times of India, New Delhi; Sanjay Kathuria, Director of Print Pack Inc., Sonipat; and Vinay Baveja, MD of Viba Press Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. The competition's evaluators included Dr. Bijender Kaushik, Assistant Professor at GJUS&T, Hisar, and Annu, the National Champion of Print Olympiad 2024.

In this fiercely contested finale, each student was given a topic on which they had five minutes to prepare. Their presentations were judged not only on content quality and reliability but also on presentation style, confidence, and their ability to respond to questions. The competition’s excitement reached its peak when the audience participated in the evaluation, making it a truly interactive experience.

After an intense round of presentations and careful deliberation, Shivam Saini, a final-year student, stood out as the clear winner. His articulate presentation, confidence, and depth of knowledge earned him the prestigious B R Chowdhri Gold Medal and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.

Shivam’s victory is not just a personal achievement but also a beacon of hope and inspiration for all students aspiring to make their mark in the printing and packaging industry. As the awards ceremony draws near, the entire university and the OPA community eagerly await the moment when Shivam will be honoured for his dedication and excellence.

This event once again highlights the invaluable role competitions like these play in nurturing young talent and encouraging innovation in the field of printing. It also stands as a tribute to B R Chowdhri’s vision of creating a generation of well-rounded professionals who are ready to lead the industry into the future.