A graduate of Panjab University, Lahore, Late Mr. O.P. Ghai was the first recipient of Prakashak Ratna Award. Though he commenced his career as a teacher, he moved to publishing and launched University Publishers in Jallandhar in 1947. Thereafter he was Chairman, Reception Committee for the First Annual Conference of the Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India, New Delhi, in 1955. Soonafter, in 1956, he attended a course on Book Publishing in London, organised by the British Council. And subsequently, he participated in the l4th International Publishers Congress in Rome and Florence.

On his return from Europe he shifted his base to New Delhi and established Sterling Publishers. His strident and dynamic approach found him representation on countless bodies as the President, Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India; Panjab Publishers Association; Federation of Indian Publishers; Asian Association of Scholarly Publishers; Vice-President (Asia), International Association of Scholarly Publishers; Member of Executive Committee of the Afro-Asian Book Council; Executive Committee of International Publishers Association; National Book Development Board; National Book Development Council.

In 1979, he was honoured with a Festschrift Volume, Indian Publishing Since Independence, on his sixtieth birthday. He also figures in Who's Who in India; Who's Who in the World; and Men of Achievement. Well-known for his exceptional organising abilities, he organised the 24th International Publishers Congress, New Delhi, 1992. Mr. O.P. Ghai's scholastic proclivity found its way in a number of publications.