We only knew what we wanted and we had our boundless enthusiasm to buoy us over every bump, real or imagined. Now when I think back on how proudly I carried our two page pullout of the first avatar of our Consumer VOICE newsletter in a University rag, everywhere with me and how I showed it to whosoever I met, I marvel at my naivete and the forbearance, patience and immense kindness of all kinds of people who not only politely gave their time but even took pains to praise and make suggestions. I do not recall a single unkind word or gesture, not even a hint of contempt. I now think that a naïve belief in what one does is kind of infectious and the faith or conviction one exudes in what one has undertaken to deliver, has its own impulse and momentum and carries opinion along, softening any harsh innuendoes.

I literally set out to conquer the world! I showed my two-page pullout structured on the black & white computer, which I learnt to punch as I went along to Which? people in the UK, the Consumer Reports people in the US and to the Editor of Choice in Australia no less. They gave me audience, supported my training for editorial work, worked on dummies with me and cheered me along.
I expected them to bet time and even their money on my Consumer VOICE—and they did! They were already successful with thousands of subscribers and subscription dollars and years of work behind them, but did that deter us from presenting our case?

Absolutely not! Then we had the Germans support us with a grant from the GTZ Small Projects Fund and now we have the Ministry of Consumer Affairs standing solidly behind us. Did we ever doubt that we would not arrive? Never!
Well it has been an eventful ten years with never a minute to pause or to look back. We have hurtled along, making our mistakes and of course learning from them. Our resources are still always in a crunch, we are still struggling but we are ever hopeful. The support that we gathered when we first set out, has only grown. We have added readers and supporters to our bandwagon of faith in our work, which has kept us going and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will not only continue to propel us along, but that we will soon be flying independently.
Consumer VOICE has grown into a 40-page, four-colour monthly and has spawned a sibling—a Hindi bi-montlhy, an online version and bi-monthlies for rural consumers.

I have at last an adequate computer, a quiet corner with a table and chair to myself with help of some kind or the other at all fronts. My team is supportive and shares my enthusiasm. The ritualistic first of January is here again. Our monthly magazine is six-months old. Putting six issues behind us has been kind of hectic and now we think we already need a "rethink" on our format. So look out for some change in the format and content plans of Consumer VOICE. If you have any suggestions, do send them on. We are going ahead to initiate a change in look a little, in the January 2007 issue. We take this opportunity to welcome Vivek Ahuja on to the VOICE team as COO from the 1st of January 2007 and wish B Misra, the outgoing CEO, the very best for his new portfolio as the Executive Director of Projects in VOICE. We look forward to a productive year ahead and a roller coaster ride through the next ten years. So jump on to go happily into 2007. Cheers!