Abstract
Society and Culture in South Asia has been published for 5 years now, beginning from Volume 1; Issue 1 of January 2015. The initial contract between SAGE and South Asian University was for 5 years and will be up for renewal now. Before that, it was published in Colombo for a decade as South Asia Journal for Culture, as the Editorial for the first issue explains. At the time it was initiated in Delhi, the expectation was to ensure timely publication for at least 5 years. The founding editorial board continued its work with commitment, which has given the journal a strong foundation.
During the last 5 years, the journal has grown considerably from the position of an unknown entity to that of a recognized forum for scholarly deliberation in South Asia. During this time, the editorial team has worked closely with SAGE to facilitate the journal’s overall governance through opening an online system for submission of essays, reviews and so on. In the last 5 years, we have hosted the scholarly works of both established and emerging scholars, and the photo essay section has allowed for pictorial documentation of social action, which is unusual for a journal hosted by a sociology department. The journal’s achievements need not be elaborated here, as it is a matter of established track record.
But now, it is time for a change and transition. I would like to thank Ankur Datta, one of the founding members of the editorial board, who left the board a few months ago, and Ravi Kumar, Associate Editor, who along with me would be leaving once this special issue goes to press. From January 2021 onwards, all the other colleagues in the Department of Sociology at South Asian University would come on board to form the new editorial board. I welcome all of them and wish them the best of luck.
During its publication run, Society and Culture in South Asia has published a number of special issues. The present issue on COVID-19 and its social implications in South Asia is the latest in these efforts. I would like to thank Ishita Dey, Department of Sociology, South Asian University, for conceptualizing the idea and for carrying it to its logical conclusion during a very difficult time.
As we leave the responsibilities of the journal, I would like to thank all the reviewers who have helped in peer-reviewing submissions since 2015 and hope they would continue to extend their support towards the journal in the future too. I am also grateful for the contributions of all the editorial assistants from 2015 onwards, who include Kumud Bhansali, Sandhya A. S., Anayika Chopra, Ratan Kumar Roy, Abir Lal Majumdar, Bincy George, Kaushalya Kumarasinghe, Anakshi Pal and Mumitha Madhu. I am particularly grateful to Anakshi Pal and Mumitha Madhu, who have been serving the journal since 2017 and also played a central role in facilitating the journal’s online submissions and review system.
While the role of the founding editorial board has now come to an end, I look forward to seeing the journal expand further in its next phase as the relationship between two institutions—South Asian University and SAGE—get renewed. In the first 5 years, Society and Culture in South Asia has established a name for itself, and I hope that it would be furthered in times to come.