After six years, the child born in Kolkata (and named as ‘Indian Pediatrics’) was brought to Delhi for further nurturing and growth. It must have been a tough decision taken after lots of deliberations and heartburns as apparent from the last editorial from Kolkata by outgoing editor Dr NG Mojumdar [1]. Circumstances behind this decision are anybody’s guess. Dr PN Taneja, often referred to as the senior most pediatrician of Delhi [2], took over as the first editor of the journal published from Delhi. Till date, he has been the only editor who was a past president of IAP; the subsequent six editors served as President of the Academy following their tenure as editor-in-chief of Indian Pediatrics. Starting the journal from a new place must had been a daunting task in those times but the editorial team accepted the challenge with a statement "The challenge has now been given to us and we would spare no effort to improve the quality of the publication in all its facets" [3]. They further mentioned that "Like a young mother we hug our re-newborn and consider it to be beautiful, even though to a dispassionate observer some faults would be apparent, which we hope our readers will overlook" [3].

The first issue of the journal from Delhi was published well behind the scheduled time. In his first editorial, editor appeals to the authors to adhere strictly to the guidelines: "It would greatly facilitate our work and the editorial office would not have to burn so much midnight oil if the contributors would carefully read and strictly comply with the instructions for preparation of manuscripts"; a statement having the same relevance even after 50 years. The guidelines for authors were published in the January issue, a tradition being followed diligently every year till very recently when the online submission process and a dynamic website having the updated ‘Information for authors’ rendered this yearly exercise futile. It is fascinating to read the ‘Instructions to authors’. The simplicity of the document is noteworthy: no CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, STARD or MOOSE!; no complex web links; and no plagiarism or Embargo policy. Editor also appealed to the readers to get more advertisements for the cash strapped journal; advertisement rates were also officially published for the first time in this issue (Annexure 1). The drugs advertised commonly were: oral penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, isoniazid, diethylcarbamazine (for filariasis and tropical eosinophilia), and many vitamin combinations.

The inaugural issue of 1970 mainly has contents related to VII National Conference in Bhopal: inaugural address, presidential address and papers read at the conference. As one flips through the pages of this volume, a wonderful piece of poetry, a toast proposed for ladies at the VII National Conference held at Bhopal by Dr P Tirumala Rao from Hyderabad, cannot be missed. Here is the masterpiece:

In ordaining you to rule this unruly male kingdom!

Thanks Ladies for you again and again!

Let every delegate raise his hand with toast like a gallant knight!

Regarding academic contents, most articles in that era were related to conditions such as protein energy malnutrition, growth and development, low-birth-weight children, and profile and prognosis of infectious diseases. A landmark article by Dr Shanti Ghosh and colleagues documenting significantly low efficacy of three doses of oral polio vaccine in Indian children [4], and an accompanying editorial by Dr OP Ghai [5] raising concerns about polio control in light of the same and discussing concept of simultaneous vaccination of a large number of children (later termed as pulse polio), and additional use of injectable polio vaccine deserve special mention. Strategies based on these concepts ultimately resulted in elimination of polio from the country, though almost 45 years later! Other famous articles from 1970 were Dr KN Agarwal’s first growth charts in Indian children [6] and an article by Dr VB Raju documenting poor efficacy of BCG vaccine in preventing tuberculous morbidity and mortality [7].

The editorial in inaugural issue of the editor’s second year exudes confidence and reflects achievements despite hard circumstances of shifting of office to a new place (Delhi) and poor financial position. Editor reiterates his appeal to authors regarding adherence to the instructions for authors, and for increasing advertisements and subscriptions for the journal. Editor also discourages authors to send ‘case reports’ stating "It is time we call a halt to sending case reports unless there is something original. We ought to clearly spell out for ourselves what we are trying to convey and only such of the material that is concerned with the ‘message’ should be included". However, the enthusiasm of authors in sending case reports, and frustration of journal editors in dealing with these papers continue till date with ‘case reports’ still forming largest category of submission, and more than 95% of them currently getting rejected [8]. With the appeal from editor to send more quality matter from the country to ‘Indian Pediatrics’ rather than foreign journals, the journal started publishing more variety of articles: from congenital heart diseases and neonatal respiratory disorders to genetics and Reye’s syndrome! Dr PM Udani’s landmark paper on BCG test was also published in this year [9]. Drug trials also started appearing in the journal: broxyquinoline, brobenzoxaldine, belladonna and berberine in childhood diarrhea (there was no ORS!), furoxone in enteric fever, sulfones in leprosy and Liv. 52 in acute hepatitis; one of these was even ‘double blinded’ [10]. Results were expressed in percentages and had to be interpreted subjectively; (to the general readers’ delight) there were no sample size calculations, P values, confidence intervals or Risk ratios.

This journey over the years, with Dr PN Taneja at the helm of affairs, seemed to progress smoothly in his last year with more and more quality articles pouring in and getting published. A series of 34 children with celiac disease diagnosed at Chandigarh [11], an etiology study from 470 children with mental disability from Delhi [12], experience related to successful reduction of intususception in 28 children from UK [13], and a series of 136 cases of post-diphtheritic paralysis [14] are testimonies to this effect. Editorials were written on ‘Pediatric Education’ and ‘Pediatric Research’. Poor efficacy of OPV and BCG continued to be discussed by experts with intelligent inputs which were ultimately given due attention (though much late) by the government authorities in revising the immunization program. A landmark development in 1972 was the report of the Nutrition Sub-committee laying down much famous IAP grades of protein energy malnutrition (Annexure 2). The financial health also seemed to improve as the number of advertisements increased, and the last few issues of year even carrying advertisement in color. Overall, the journal had achieved a strong foothold in Delhi and repute amongst Indian pediatricians by this time. A shift from the relatively traditional Kolkata to more metropolitian and vibrant Delhi was probably the most significant achievement for its growth and international status during the upcoming years.

Dr PN Taneja remained editor for 3 years before handing over the reins to his able successor Dr OP Ghai. The journey will continue. More from the tenure of Dr Ghai and Indian Pediatrics in next issue…

Annexure 1: Advertisement Rates in 1970s

(From: Indian Pediatrics 1970; Volume 1: page 64)

Annexure 2: IAP Document on Grades of Protein Energy Malnutrition

(From: Indian Pediatrics 1972; Volume 9: page 360)

Membership: Doctors, A.S. Chikermane, W. A. M. Cutting, A. G. Desai, K. K. Kaul, Y.C. Mathur, S. Pereira, V. Reddy, B.N.S. Walia and P.M. Shah (Convenor).

A workshop on protein calorie malnutrition was organized in Bombay on 24th and 25th July 1971, under the chairmanship of Dr. S.M. Merchant. Fifteen leading pediatricians and nutritionist participated. Regional nutrition adviser, W.H.O. and chief of Food & Nutrition, U S A I D in India were present by invitation. Following recommendations were made:

Nutrition subcommittee suggested that such percentile of Harvard growth charts should be adopted as reference standards for comparison. This does not compromise need for development of suitable growth norms for Indian children. Protein calorie malnutrition may be graded as follows:

1. Mojumdar NG. Love’s labour lost. Indian Pediatr.1969;6:812.

2. Udani PM. History of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Indian Pediatr. 1988;25:5-13.

3. Taneja PN, Chandra RK. About us (Editorial). Indian Pediatr. 1970;7:xv.

4. Ghosh S, Kumari S, Balaya S, Bhargava SK. Antibody response to oral polio vaccine in infancy. Indian Pediatr. 1970:7:78-81.

5. Ghai OP. Oral attenuated poliovirus vaccine. Indian Pediatr. 1970;7:65-7.

6. Agarwal KN, Manwani AH, Khanduja PC, Agarwal DK, Gupta S. Physical growth of Indian school children. Indian Pediatr. 1970;7:146-55.

7. Raju VB, Narmada R. Evaluation of BCG vaccination in children below six years. Indian Pediatr. 1970;7:532-41.

8. Indian Pediatrics: Instructions to Authors. Available from: URL: http://www.indianpediatrics.net/author1.htm. Accessed February 1, 2013.

9. Udani PM, Parekh UC, Shah PM, Naik PA. BCG test in tuberculosis. Indian Pediatr. 1971;8:143-50.

10. Mazumdar M, Mazumdar H. Broxyquinoline and brobenzoxaldine with belladonna in childhood diarrhoeas. Indian Pediatr. 1971;8:65-7.

11. Walia BNS, Mehta S, Gupte SP. Caeliac disease. Indian Pediatr. 1972;9:16-9.

12. Sinclair S. Etiological factors in mental retardation- A study of 470 cases. Indian Pediatr. 1972;9: 91-6.

13. Kaushal V. Role of barium enema in acute intussusception. Indian Pediatr. 1972;9:152-4.

14. Thomas K, Chungath JP, Philip E. Postdiphtheretic paralysis- A study of 136 cases. Indian Pediatr. 1972;9: 561-5.