SDOPA organised 310 celebrations in memory Ziegenbalg

Salem District Offset Printers Association (SDOPA) celebrated the 310 commemorations on the arrival of Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg at Tharangambadi in Tamil Nadu on 9 July 2016.

20 Jul 2016 | By Krishna Naidu

A Karmeham, past president of SDOPA, said, “The event was organised by the members of SDOPA and it was a successful event.”

E Sureshbabu, co-ordinator at History of Ziegenbalg welcomed the guests while Thomas Muller Bahlke, director at Franke Foundation, Germany and Justice J Kanakaraj, a retired judge, High Court were the guest of honours at the event.

A museum project was set up at Ziegenbalg house in Tharangabadi to honour Ziegenbalg. Bahlke spoke about Ziegenbalg’s contribution to the print industry and unfolded a copy of Recreating History of Printing by Kamal Chopra.

The members of SOPA donated ancient printing machinery to the museum.

Ziegenbalg had set up the first printing press, Tranquebar Press, in 1712 AD, a paper mill in Porayar, Tamil type foundry, ink factory and printed the Bible in Tamil.