Past knowledge provides leads for future discoveries and management of life and societies. It applies to all aspects of art, science, history and social developments.

Leprosy has been described in India from ancient times in its scriptures. India also has documented knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of leprosy from early and recent times. From the middle of the eighteenth century onwards a big network of governmental and non-governmental institutions for leprosy has been established in India. Besides patient care, these institutions have contributed immensely to the developments of leprology. The wealth of literature on clinical aspects, medical and surgical management, epidemiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology and socio-behavioral aspects of leprosy has also emanated from these institutions.

The Indian Journal of Leprosy (IJL), which was previously called ‘Leprosy in India’ established by Hind Kust Nivaran Sangh (HKNS)  is one of the oldest medical journals of India and started its first publication in July 1929. From the time of its inception, which coincided with the formative years of modern and scientific management of leprosy, its publications included  important breakthrough research articles, drug trials and social viewpoints. Like other leprosy journals, contributors are from India as well as other countries involved in leprosy work and research.  The issues of this journal have been the storehouse of valuable information and foundational research over decades, that continues to inform and influence current medical practice and research. Archiving these volumes ensures that this knowledge is not lost over time, and helps track the progress of medical advancements, study trends, or compare past and current treatment outcomes. Moreover, online electronic archives make them easily accessible and obviate the need to visit  libraries in search of  hard copies.

While papers published from 2008 onwards are available on the website of IJL, unfortunately electronic/ web based archival records of issues published prior to 2008 are not available at this website or anywhere else. With the intention of making all the issues of IJL from its first publication available to all, the planning for ‘archives of IJL’ was initiated in 2023 by the Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL). We are happy to launch the website this year, and at the time of its launch will have issues from 1929 to 1949 (except of years 1941, 1942). We plan to upload all the issues till 2008 over the next few months and as we have already acquired hard copies of most of the volumes, although some are still not available with us. We anticipate that all the stakeholders of leprosy, including student trainees, researchers and health care providers will use these archives as a resource for learning about the evolution of medical theories, treatments and technologies to have insight into a broader perspective on this age-old disease.