It gives me mixed feelings to write as the Interim Editor of Industrial Economist, an institution that was nurtured by S Viswanathan or SV sir, as I used to call him. Through these years, IE maintains its independent views on a wide range of subjects. All credits to our Founder-Editor, SV. Putting aside emotions, am sure he would want to see IE pursue with its unique and niche journalism. In his true style, he has pushed me into an ocean and it’s my turn to learn to swim. But this time I have a sense of direction, that comes from the 11-year experience of having trained under him.
The pandemic, followed by war gave a huge blow to print media. Several media houses, especially small magazine like ours have been severely hit. But IE has always ensured to stay ahead of the curve. IE reported through the great famines of sixties, license-era of seventies and eighties, liberalisation during nineties, technology changes of the two thousand and the social media era, now. Staying strong through social, technological and economic changes, IE’s substantial work on Indian economy and industry is indeed a handbook for experts.
Looking back, we have witnessed, change is the only constant. Several changes have threatened our existence but at each turn, deciding to embrace technology has ensured that IE stayed in line with the trend. To suit the digital era, swansong was sung for the IE print edition. June 2022 marked the last print edition, since its beginning in March 1968. An eventful 54 years! A record indeed, for a small and niche magazine from the conservative south.
In its fully digital version, we ensure that our in-depth analyses are available more frequently and easily at the click of a button. A change for the better.
Through 2022, our coverage has been well spread. Reports on corporates including, Essar, Neyveli Lignite, TNPL; on economy related to budget and GST, on agriculture, education and a special issue for the Tamil Nadu government followed by the coverage of the seminar that had about 50 key speakers from different industries in the state. Moving forward to 2023 with the same focus and vigour, we are geared up to offer our readers insight, knowledge and perspective.
The buzzword around has been about Artificial Intelligence and its effect on creative fields like art and writing. ChatGPT’s human like conversation skill and dreamy pictures from LensaAI are flooding social media. At the beginning, creators around the world were threatened that this would eventually wipe off their tribe but with further usage, it is proved that their existence matters more now, than ever. With any new technology, there are lot of positives, negatives and resistance to accept it. I remember how people feared computerisation and then digitalisation. But embracing them have helped us evolve better. Our efficiency has improved and we are able to do things that were once just science fiction. I do feel that these AI technologies are similar. Yes it does seem threatening, but a genuine writer or an artist is always in need and highly recognised. As much as the thought process involved, genuineness also shows through art. While AI can create several aspects, it cannot replicate the genuine efforts of the creative person. But what this AI would do is make creativity open and easily accessible for all. Creative people hold themselves up in a pedestral. But there are many more out in open, who have the same though but lack in the action to execute it. These AI softwares will come to their aid. This would create a whole lot of interesting competition as the floodgates open up. Yes, it is a challenge, but a creative person would agree that creativity is best triggered as most pressured times.
From IE’s experience it is quite clear, fighting against change is like leading a losing battle. Only when it is embraced, can one grow. From a meta perspective, it is only change that has brought mankind so far, else we would have been content as cave dwellers. Signing off by saying lets welcome change, IE wishes all its readers healthy, happy and cheerful year ahead.
