Change and challenge

Abstract

Change is inevitable and is the only constant feature of our life. It is a law of nature and we have to accept it as a phenomenon that allows us to evolve. Time guides the change and takes it to the height it deserves. Change is a law of nature and many a time, its effect is unnoticed. Human desire is ever growing and so also its passion to do something big and bright. That is what we see every where. 60 years of independence has taken its deep roots in binding the country and understanding each other through nationalism. Our country is progressing and visible change is seen in every sector, not only in the economy but also in the minds of the youth, who are energetic and intelligent, and are enthusiastic to take command. In this 21st century challenges must be treated as chances for the best. Indian Journal of Surgery is being published since more than fi ve decades. Our stalwarts had taken up the enormous challenge of uniting the surgeons of India, develop academically, guide them, and through the journal give a platform to the members to illustrate their work and share their experiences. IJS has seen its ups and downs and carried its duty truthfully to publish articles and encourage surgeons. The last two decades have seen a dramatic development in the medical fi eld such as multi speciality hospitals giving world class care and even gradual increase in medical tourism. Is this not a change with challenge that provides chance to fulfi ll the aspiration of our society? The vibrant era of high skilled activities in all fi eld of medicine has arrived in a great way, and will continue to grow and attract people from other countries and giving valuable care to our own citizen. New research laboratories at various levels have started operating in India dealing with specialized fi elds such as stem cell or pharmokinetics, giving substantial new revelation to the world. This change took only sixty years, because youth has taken the challenge to change the face of the country from poverty to power, and from follower to leader. Research of high quality has started coming from our Institutions. IJS has to come forward to attract those high skilled surgical scientists and give them confi dence that this can be a journal of international standard. We understand that work done by anyone is to be recognized universally, and since we are not indexed in Medical Index System, we loose out on a good number of original and interesting articles to the foreign journals. However, IJS is recognized by more than 20 other international agencies and electronic monitoring sites, and we are continuously working towards achieving universal acceptance through all indexing and abstracting agencies. The efforts are continuing for the past few years and a change is visible in all aspects of IJS, including the published academic material. The numbers of articles were more then 550 in 2006 and has already crossed 300 this year. Quality articles are still less in number, which is a challenge to IJS gaining international acceptance. Our Surgeons should come forward and contribute their best work to IJS. For the change and to accept challenge of time, Association of Surgeons of India and IJS have signed a contract with Springer, a world renowned publishing company of more then 150 years of experience that publishes worldwide through offi ces in various countries, including China, and India. Springer’s aim is to offer excellence and more than 150 Nobel prize-winners have published with Springer to the present date. The company has highly trained professionals working in various fi elds of publication, and would be helping IJS at each step to improve its quality. There are many renowned surgeons and medical professionals associated with Springer, who are helping in the publication of more then 329 medical journals worldwide. IJS will be a part of this larger fraternity, however with its own individuality. We are sure to develop and are accepting the challenge and change for the good of IJS, in its transition to becoming a high quality journal. Springer’s guidance will help us in achieving the goal, and in due course of time, attract high class articles from our colleagues in India, and abroad. Publication of IJS by private publisher was fi rst raised in G.C. of 1994 and later on discussed many times till 1998. A.E. Morgan offered to publish it on the same terms as accepted now by Springer. Dr. S.Vittal, Past President ASI, the then Secretary ASI and myself visited Morgan’s offi ce Indian J. Surg. (August 2007) 69:120–121