Dr. Lalit Mehdiratta 1963 - 2022The Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) and Indian Journal of Anaesthesia (IJA) share the sad news of the untimely demise of its Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Dr. Lalit Mehdiratta who left for his heavenly abode on February 17th 2022. Dr. Lalit served the ISA for more than 24 years in different capacities including President ISA Bhopal City, Founder Secretary Central Zone, Governing Council Member of ISA National (2012-2016), Member Editorial board of IJA from 2016. He participated in various zonal, national and World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists(WFSA) conferences and ISA sponsored continuing medical education programmes as a part of national faculty. He was invited as guest faculty in Asia Pacific Meetings and round table talks at Malaysia, Manila, Jakarta, Dubai and Hong Kong. He was felicitated by the Honourable Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh in the years 2009, 2013 and 2019 for his contribution in the field of anaesthesia and critical care. He served as Director and Head of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Narmada Trauma and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh for a long time.Dr. Lalit handled the national academic responsibility as EIC of the IJA with utmost dedication and enthusiasm. He believed that strong editors can make drastic changes in the quality and functioning of the journal editing process and also provide new paths for its progression. He also believed that ensuring practical feasibility and sustainability of research work is the need of the hour; nevertheless various zonal supplements, coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 supplements, COVID-19 guidelines, Postgraduate issues and the unique ‘all women's issue’ were published during his EIC tenure, many of which have made a significant impact on the global anaesthesia academics.[12] He endeavoured to get every issue of the IJA online in time even during the toughest of times, the COVID-19 times, when all members of the editorial team and reviewers either themselves or their family members were down with COVID-19 related problems. He valued and respected every editorial team member and ensured that they enjoy full freedom while editing the articles. He always believed that authors and reviewers are the backbone of IJA and he always gave them due respect. In addition to being a firm and principled editor, his managerial qualities in dealing with the publishers were amazing. His words of encouragement to each member of our editorial team will remain forever in our memories.In Dr. Lalit's death, the editorial team of IJA has lost a very patient, courageous, dedicated, generous and enterprising leader. In these moments of grief, the editorial team members send their condolences and sympathy to his bereaved family members - his wife Kiran, sons Aditya and Geetansh. We pray that the Almighty grant ‘Moksha’ (Salvation) to his soul and give strength to his family members to overcome their loss and grief. We, as a team will continue to endeavour to implement Dr Lalit's ideas to strengthen the research scenario in our nation and work hard to make our scientific journey successful. We will try and strive to fulfill his academic dreams so that his vision of IJA remains intact and the mission of scientific excellence continues……Team IJA and ISA