EXACTLY a year ago, Democratic World (or DW) was launched in its English language avatar and in the 12 months since, has grown and expanded in directions that perhaps even we had not expected. When I look back at the year gone by, what comes to mind are the faces of all the people who have appeared in our pages and the inspiring stories and thoughts that they have shared with the readers of DW. In a way, this editorial is also a thank-you note to all those who gave of their time, allowed us to take endless photographs and opened their doors to our writers—especially in the first few issues, when we were still in the process of carving out our niche in the world of publications. So far, we have tried to keep our selection of stories as ‘democratic’ as possible, widening the meaning of the word to include people from all walks and spheres of life. In the pages of DW, you will find political and business leaders, writers and painters, social workers and sportspeople, lawyers and doctors. We have faithfully taken opposing views on burning issues and stayed true to the vision that voices from every corner of society have a right to be heard. This last year has also been a time of introspection and we are aware that we still have a lot to learn. In forthcoming issues, we are committed to making our content cover a wider range of subjects and delve deeper into their nuances. To do that, we would also need your help and participation; so write in to us, comment on our work and send your suggestions our way. The year has ended with a few dramatic happenings, both here in India and in the larger world. Barrack Obama has been elected for a historic second term and Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack, has finally been dealt the death penalty. At the Olympics, India came home with more medals than ever before and Sachin Tendulkar hit his 100th century. Here at DW we always tend to keep our focus on the positive stories which hold out hope for the future. It’s an approach we have consciously adopted because while we know that there is a lot that is wrong with the world around us, we also believe that there are many people who are fighting to bring about a positive change. In 2013, we hope to bring you more stories and interviews with such people. Before I close, I also want to express my abiding gratitude to my father, the late Mr Ashok Kumar Malhotra; Democratic World is a direct outcome of his vision and efforts and I hope that he is looking down at us with a sense of accomplishment and pride in our efforts. I wish you all a Happy New Year.