Albert W. D'Souza  the right choice of Mangalore Diocesan "RACHANA" for the maiden "Entrepreneur of the year Award"

By H.R. Alva, Maria Advertisers, Mangalore

" He was a simple boy from a village agriculturist family but a brilliant lad scoring 100% in Mathematics and equally good in extra carricular activities too.  He was a student at the famous St. Francis Technical Institute at Borivli but today he is the guiding force of that Institute. He was an employee at a reputed printing concern but today he is employing in multiples of hundreds in his state of the art printing units. He is a printer of repute who has been appreciated by many a Multinational Companies for the quality printing. He has been admired by many a Bishops, Cardinals and even by His Holiness Pope for his contributions in spreading the Gospel.  Though he is at the highest rungs of the ladder he has always remembered his humble beginning."  I am referring to Mr. Albert Wilfred D'Souza, a Pangalite but now a Mumbaikar, who is far away from publicity but his deeds speak volumes about him.  I, being his neighbour and schoolmate in Pangala having observed him closely from his childhood, am privileged  to introduce him as a prominent leader of the Mangalorean Catholic Community, a self made man spreading the fragrance of jasmines of Pangala everywhere. Apart from being my childhood friend he is maternally related to my wife Concepta too.

Albert was born on 1-1-1957 to Mrs. Elizabeth D'Souza, nee Castelino and Mr. Alex D'Souza(expired in 1998) at Pangala, a place famous for Jasmine cultivation. His family is engaged in the paddy and jasmine cultivation and Albert inherited the qualities of hardworking and devotion to duty. He had his primary education at the St.John's Higher Primary School, Shankerpura which celebrated its Centenary in 2002 and secondary education at the S.V.H. High School, Innanje, which is run by the Sode Mutt of Udupi. He was a brilliant student at the school scoring 100 marks in mathematics and equally good in other subjects. He came out in flying colours in SSLC public examination.

As the custom of those days, Albert proceeded to Mumbai and had the technical education at St. Francis Technical Institute in Printing Tecnology standing first in All India level. He joined a private printing concern of repute as management trainee and went on to study Diploma in Printing Technology at the J.J.School of Arts. In 1979 he obtained B.A. degree through correspondence studies of Mysore University.  In the meanwhile he  joined another leading Pvt. Ltd. Printing Concern and handled the post of 'Sales Manager'.

Albert's entreprenuerial life started in 1981, when he founded the Mount View Mangalore Stores and Cold Storage, opposite Immaculate Conception Church, Borivli, which is a household name in Borivli even today. In the year 1982 he started Printania Press with a few machines and handful of employees. As years rolled by this printing press turned as Printania Offset Private Limited with state of the art printing machines which prints in multi colours with quality and quantity. He goes on increasing the working space, in step by step expansion.  From 8 to 10 employees initially,  his employees strength has risen to several hundreds. Now his printing unit consits of A to Z requirements inhouse. From floppy
disk or hard copy Printania works the projects through concept (with their creative people), typesetting (with their own in-house facilities), photography (as required) to camera -ready working art, final film output through imagesetter and large format digital output and quality checking on the printing press. Printania is known for their cost-effective working strategy, customer relations and ability to meet deadlines.

Today Printania is a familiar name for quality printing among small and large concerns, national and foreign companies, within India and abroad.
Printania fulfils the printing needs of many a Pharmaceutical Companies, Insurance and Banking Institutions, Petrochemicals, Publicity Agencies and other concerns. We may mention a few land mark printing works of Printania like "The Making of a Cricketer- Formative years of Sachin Tendulkar in Cricket" by Ajit Tendulkar, the elder brother of Sachin, "Love your Heart" -  by Dr. Vivek K. Mehan, "The Art of Healthy Living" by Dr. Pinakin Shah, "Children's Bible in Colour" - published by St. Paul's Publication, "Memoirs and Milestones" of Cardinal Simon Pimenta.
 
Apart from the above Printania has printed Bible in lakhs of copies in various languages and for various Dioceses in India and abroad. The Konkani Complete Bible and the pocket edition pulished by the Diocese of Mangalore is printed by Printania. For his remarkable contribution in spreading the "Word of God" , His Holiness Pope John Paul II has given him a special audience and lauded his services to the Church. Apart from this Albert has been honoured by many a Cardinals and Bishops for his achievements. On 30th November 2003 when the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Most Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintana  visited Mangalore Albert was specially invited for his felicitation programme by the Diocese of Mangalore at the Rosario Cathedral Church and he was honoured by the Nuncio.

Albert has achieved a lot in the higher educational arena. He is the man behind the success stories of St. Francis Institute of Technolgy (Engineering College), Borivli, and St. Francis Institute of Management
and Research, Borvli, founded by the Franciscan Brothers of Borivli; and Don Bosco Institute of Technology (Engineering College), Kurla, founded by Don Bosco Fathers. He is instrumental in obtaining permission for St. Joseph Engineering College, Mangalore and he is responsible for getting a good amount of donations from Mumbai for this College apart from his personal contributions. I am proud to mention here that all the above institutions have got the "Catholic Minority Institution" status. He is serving in the Executive Committee of all these Institutions.

Albert is also the Managing Director of Brisk Instrumentations Company which produces the Power Supply Signalling Systems for Indian Railways and Defence.

Along with Mr. John D'Silva, the Co-operative Banking giant, Albert struggled hard in converting the Mangalorean Catholic Co-op. Credit Society into Model Co-operative Bank, which has 11 All Computerised and 7 days a week working Branches in Mumbai with  123.91 Crores of Deposits, with "A" Grade audit classification. Albert is serving as Vice-Chairman of this Bank.

In the Lions International too he is active. He was the Award winning President of Lions Club, Bhimanagar. Under his leadership this Club has several achievements to its credit.

Albert is the Vice-President of the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mumbai which is a Forum of Christian Entreprenuers.  This organisation has  created awareness among Christian small and large entreprenuers. (RACHANA of Mangalore Diocese is a similar organisation).

Albert has also served in the establishment of about 200 bedded Karuna Hospital, Borivli founded by the Mission Sisters of Ajmer.

We may observe a special quality in Albert. He is always looking back. He visits Pangala now and then  to see his mother and other family members. He is a major contributor to his alma maters and he participates in their programmes. He is a constant supporter of Franciscan Brothers' projects at Borivli and other religious congregations, lay organisations in Mumbai and elsewhere. He loves his mother tongue Konkani and participates in various programmes whenever possible. During these programmes his thought- provoking speeches are appreciated by many a people. He is supporting the Konkani Journalism in
a special way. Now he has a dream of improving and making strong the Century old Clubs (Kudaam) of Mangaloreans in Mumbai. 

Happily married to Elvina Margaret D'Mello who is behind Albert's success story.This couple has a daughter, Elaine, studying  for Mass  Communication Degree and a son, Aldridge, studying in 5th standard. 

Albert is really a gem of our Mangalorean Konkani Catholic Community.  Now by unanimously selecting Albert W. D'Souza for the maiden award RACHANA has honoured itself.

I congratulate him for all his achievements and wish him all success in his endeavours.

Albert's Contact: Printania Offset Pvt. Ltd., D 20/21, Shalimar Industrial Estate, Matunga (East), Mumbai - 400 019  Tel: +91-22-2407 7996 / 8866 / 4540     Fax: +91 -22-2402 4703   e-mail: pds6@rediffmail.com
Works: 213 - 216, New Sonal Link Heavy ind. Estate, Malad (West), Mumbai - 400 064                   Tel: +91-22-2888 8062 / 64      Fax: +91-22-2882 4792  
e-mail: aldel@bol.net.in

Profile by H.R. Alva, Proprietor of Maria Advertisers, Mangalore and former Secretary (1986-1991), Pastoral Council, Diocese of Mangalore.