The Stalinabad Printing Plant was a state-owned entity in Dushanbe, the capital city of the Tajik Autonomous (and later) Soviet Socialist Republic. In October 1929, the name of Dushanbe was changed to Stalinabad in honor of Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), leader of the Soviet Union. The city grew rapidly during the Soviet-era and was an industrial base for many years. The city was re-named Dushanbe in 1961. It is currently the capital and the largest city in Tajikistan.