Close to 500 delegates attended the function which had Dr J Geeta Reddy, minister of information and PR, cinematography, FDC and tourism in the Andhra Pradesh government; Ramoji Rao, the chairman of the Ramoji group; Pranav Parikh, chairman and managing director of TechNova and movie star Chiranjeevi, among others.

Interestingly, the function was repeated the next day for more than 1,200 employees of the Pragati. The Pragati top management stood at the entrance welcoming each and every employee, personally. After which the program was conducted in Telegu with Narendra translating the English speeches into Telegu for the benefit of his staff. As a grand culmination. Wayne Rau handed over "the elephant" to the Pragati team to cries of "hip hip hurrah".

On both occasions, Narendra Parchuri addressed the gathering.

He attributed the strong showing to a dedicated team. He said: "equipment and the technology are the same for everyone. The Pragati team's passion takes the company to win at the global level."

He said: "Since then we have been developing initiatives to both improve the sustainability of our business and to help our customers do the same.



Excerpts from Narendra's address
Good evening. I cannot express my happiness on this evening. I can only say that we are most thankful to Sappi for giving us this opportunity to prove ourselves at a global level. We would have printed as good but without a platform to gauge ourselves against the world. We would not have known where we stand.

Pragati has been participating in the Sappi competition from 2001, the year of inception. To-date, Pragati bagged 43 SAPPI awards - 12 Gold, 26 Silver and five Bronze. If I may say so, no other printer in the world has won so many awards in the past 10 years of Sappi competition.

We are very happy that till October 2012, which is when the next Sappi award will be hosted, Pragati will be the only printer in Asia and Australia to have won this award.

When we went to Hong Kong for the finals in 2001, all the finalists were asked on to the stage. The toast was "to the best in the world". I must say that it was a heady feeling that I could never get out of that "nasha". That's why we go back, year after year, hunting for the coveted Elephant. No doubt that we will continue to do that as long as we are in business.

I thank my father for having given us the Pragati platform - and springboard to go forward.

Here, I also must mention my maternal uncle, Neelakanteswara Rao, who joined Pragati in 1965. He and my father made Pragati a popular name in the city. He passed away this morning at 4.30 am.

My father and my uncle drilled into us that quality is prime and there should be no compromises as far as that it is concerned. Our heartfelt thanks to them. I am glad that my mother is here too. She is the one who made us what we are today.

This year is very special to us. In all these years, I have been the face of Pragati at all the Sappi awards ceremonies.

But today my father who has started this company has received the Elephant. This is a moment of great pride. He started with a small machine, 48 years ago, and today he has received the award as the best in the world. It has been a long journey.

Thank you Sappi for this wonderful gesture of bringing the award to our city. It is a moment which will remain etched in the memories of all of us who are present here. It was always a very happy event - winning the Elephant - but receiving it in the presence of so many well wishers, our happiness is multiplied, 500 times.

As I said, I have been the face of the company. Behind the scene there are many people making things move. My brother Mahendra takes the top spot. He has never ever questioned my decisions. He has always solidly stood behind and pushed me forward. A wizard with our machines and always playing the good cop or the bad cop depending on my role in the scene. Also would like to thank my sons, Harsha and Hemanth.

I am very happy that they also have as much passion for print and I am sure that they will take Pragati on its Pragati Patham. This is the immediate family but as important is our extended family - Team Pragati - whose untiring efforts have resulted in winning these awards. Technology and machines are with every printer. But it is the team which makes all the difference. The Pragati team is willing to run that extra mile. It is this that makes the difference. I thank each and every member of our team.

Along with my face, courtesy of Sappi, my wife has been a true Ardhangi in this Journey. She has been to all the Sappi functions with me and I am glad that she was, is and will always be with me, in me.

I miss one person today. My sister in law, Mani. I can only say that, as I told my grand-daughter, she has become a star in the sky always guiding us in the right direction.

If it were not for our clients, we would never have reached this place. I am thankful to one and all for having reposed their trust in Pragati. I am happy that over the time, we have not just been a vendor but have become a part of our clients team.

I thank all our vendor partners who are here to share our joy. Without them our world will not be complete.

Thank you our friends and well-wishers for having come all the way to share our joy today. We are extremely grateful.