AJIM – The Journey So Far….

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From the editorial team of AJIM, warm greetings for the new year and we wish you all a happy, peaceful, healthy, and prosperous 2023. As we embark on our journey into the new year, I am given the huge responsibility of shouldering the job of the Editor-in-Chief of our journal. Dr. M Premanath had steered our journey from the beginning of this journal in January 2016 till the previous issue. He is largely responsible for where the journal stands today, achieved by his untiring efforts combined with grit and determination and above all self-devotion to the cause of the journal. Indeed, it would be a herculean task to fill in his shoes. He was chosen as the Editor-in-Chief of this journal in 2016 after a long debate whether to have a journal for API Karnataka or not. His argument in favor of the debate finally won, and it also came with a rider that he should manage the journal as EIC. The early days of the journal were tough as there were hardly any contributions from authors and bringing out each issue was a herculean task. He was a one-man army for the journal. In the initial few years, there was no system of web-based manuscript handling. In those days, the entire article stage from receiving manuscript, peer review, communication with authors, reviewers, proof check, coordinating with printers, all these processes were handled single handedly by him with devotion and executed perfectly well for next 3½ years. The journal later associated itself with Medknow/Wolters Kluwer and the publication responsibility was taken care of by them. Many important changes came through this such as online manuscript handling and professional production and this enabled other editorial board members to involve themselves fully with the journal activity. Dr. Premanath's contribution as EIC in the last 7 years is difficult to put in words. He trained all of us in manuscript handling and editorial processes and always insisted on timely actions. At times, he seemed to be tough on editors, but such instances were very rare and were always in the best interest of the journal and the anxiety of authors to get their work published early were his priorities. He will continue his association with the journal as Editor Emeritus, guiding us in our works and continue to shape the journal for the future. We had our first fruit of efforts when the journal was included/indexed in DOAJ. Encouraged by this, we are aiming to have journal indexed in other indexing services like SCOPUS. For this, we need more contributions of high quality and I request all our readers to contribute their best work to the journal and help its growth. The journal is indebted to all the contributors, and to all the reviewers who continue to do their work selflessly and in the background. The entire editorial board profusely thanks all our reviewers for their immense contribution to the journal. As the new EIC, I seek your guidance, constructive criticisms, and suggestions for the improvement in the journal content or functioning. Wishing you all happy 2023!