If Ahmedabad can have a pride of place for wedding and manuhar cards, Mr. Pratap Mehta, owner of Sona Industries has also got to have a special place. It is a rare distinction and a matter of pride that embossed invitation cards are made only in this city. Ahmedabad is progressive and far ahead in this business as compared to other cities in country. The city, over the years, has acquired and perfected that art of die-cutting and embossing. One could even say that it is the speciality of the city to do it simultaneously. The city has mastered the art of making beautiful, attractive marriage invitation cards with the help of punching and

embossing process. It is surprising, and a reality, that machines to make such cards are manufactured only in Ahmedabad. Mr. Pratap has the sole distinction of producing such machines.

Though without formal education, a 68 years old Mr. Pratap, a man from Kathiawar (Gujarat) is an expert on embossed designs. Inventor of many innovative designs, it is he who reportedly has started embossing the symbol of Ganesha with golden linings

Recognized in the country as a courageous and dynamic entrepreneur and far- sighted businessman. He is also respected for his social and religious services. These include, promotion of education, health, famine relief, support to charitable and religious institutions, etc. without distinguishing between cast, creed, colour or race on humanitarian basis. It is understandable that for the marriage of his son, he prepared a totally different invitation card. It was a large design and nearly 300-400 small precious stones were arranged on one piece. It took him twenty full days to complete the wedding cards. Mr. Pratap’s Sona Label is well known for embossed wedding cards, manuhar patrika and dolly paper. What is required to be noted here is that Mr. Pratap has seen the beginning and growing in demand for manuhar card over the years.

Manuhar cards precede wedding cards intimating friends and relatives about the coming of marriage. Though used earlier by Marwari communities, of late, many others have adopted the cards in a big way that it is a must with most of the marriages happening now-a-days.

“With my long association in the industry, I could say that I have screen printing in my blood. In 1968, I suppose, I was the first printer to do screen printing on wedding cards.” Mr. Mehta’s Sona Industries manufacturers embossing machines, 1 to 6 Colour Sticker Label machine with Hot Foil Stamping. Sona’s die-cutting machines and ‘Sonika’ hot foil stamping machines for 1 to 4 colours are very popular.

According to Mr. Pratap, it all started with label / sticker printing people having problems to do hot foil stamping. “When they asked us whether we can do repeat pass of foil printing in roll form, we carried out the assignment.” Since, then, there was no looking back for Sona Brand. A regular exhibitor, Sona Industries and Sona Lables were seen at Printpack India 2002 & 2005 and India Label Show.

The family business is being looked after by father and two sons. The eldest, Mr. Nilesh Mehta, 32, oversee wedding cards business, while Mr. Pragnesh Mehta, 25, looks after the manufacturing of machines. Talking about the wedding card business, Mr. Nilesh said “We always go for new developments and innovations which is what today’s customer demands.”

Mr. Pragnesh is also looking for modern and new technology, he says, “We are now planning to launch screen printing machines with 6 colour station”. “My success relies in, I think my hardwork, sincerity, punctuality and eagerness to give something new every time to our customers.” said Mehta senior.

During Dupa in 1990 Heidelberg had presented him a memento for his particular achievement of embossing Mahabharata poster in a golden foil.

An active person for the welfare of the industry, Mr. Mehta was also president of All India Card Manufacturers Association in 1997-98.

He is, however, not happy with the present trends in the market. “There is tough competition and there is every effort to undercut by all the players.” Greeting Card, Wedding Cards Industry offers new scope of development as it is consumer oriented and every time one needs to produce something new and innovative. With label and gravure printing, it provides a wide variety of ways to create something new every time, he said. “We have been exporting and fully satisfied customers give us repeat orders and the business is growing in leaps and bounds,” Mr. Mehta said about his exports to outside countries like UK. Marriage invitations by the family priest on a large white paper sprinkled with red turmeric powder are a thing of the past. Move over history, here is a new history in the making. Says Mr. Mehta, “We have printed / hot stamping on halftone, non-woven fabric which are used in wedding cards,” and the beauty of his products is displayed in each and every of many of the weddings for all to see and appreciate.