SOME 65 years after gaining our freedom, India’s enemies are now home-grown—corruption, inequality, malnutrition and illiteracy. How do we deal with these new-age enemies? My father and founder of the MBD Group, Shri AK Malhotra, assured me that every good deed left its mark. If we all left our collective footprints, we could change the world for the better. This month, we look back and gauge the bigger picture; as to who left a footprint and who did not. To help us in this, we sought out an expert. One who has dealt with and written about India’s socio-economic politics for over four decades. Yes, I realise the choice of our ‘expert’ will lead to some raised eyebrows. The month that we, citizens of this wonderful country of ours, celebrate our independence, DW, a magazine which was started with the express desire to focus on the same, chose a British citizen for its cover. The logic is simple. Sir Tully, a celebrity in India, is also an Indian celebrity (he is more Indian than some Indians I know of). He has been successful in interpreting our socio political scenario and has contextualised its economic events with a degree of clarity that very few Indian journalists have. His reports on India has always resonated with an understanding of this country. Raised by an English nanny, Sir Tully was whisked away to the land of tea and crumpets at a tender age. However, as he has admitted in several interviews since then, a 2013listlessness that he felt within him quelled when he started reporting on our country for the BBC. Who better to look back at the nearly four decades of independence? On a graver side, we look closely at the Uttarakhand devastation. Are there ways in which tourism and ecology can go hand in hand in India? We are not writing nor speaking about complicated ways to sustainable development. Simply asking every Indian to do their part to save a bit of the country’s soul—the Himalayas. Our Issue section takes a look at the topic from a closer angle. Our team also does its first restaurant review this month. And as usual Mz Reshii takes us to an exotic location. In July, MBD Group, too, celebrated the 68th birth anniversary of its founder, Shri AK Malhotra. We have shared moments of the event with you, dear readers. Do have a look. Like my father did, I hope we all realise that we are an extended family called India. This month, let our actions speak our love. Let’s leave a footprint behind. Happy Independence Day!