Dhruba Nath Joshi

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(Shri Dhruba Nath Joshi)

Dhruba Nath Joshi (14 November 1922 – 11 January 2021) popularly known as Dhruba Sir, Dhruba Da, D. N. Joshi was an Educationist, Philanthropist, and Politician from the state of Meghalaya, India. He was a Six-time legislator and a Cabinet Minister in the state Government of Meghalaya.

Early Life

Dhruba Nath Joshi had humble social origins; he was born on 14th November 1922 into a Brahmin Family of Shri Hemlal Joshi and Smt Bhubaneswari Devi at Lama Villa Locality in Shillong, (erstwhile Assam). He was the eldest of Six Children. Dhruba Nath Joshi studied in Gorkha Pathshala High School at Mawprem and the Govt. Boys High School, Jaiaw from where he passed matriculation in 1941 in First Division under Calcutta University with Distinction in the All India Matriculation Examination. He displayed a wide range of interests and skill acquisition in Music, Sports, Theater, Academics, etc.

After the passing away of his father Hemlal Joshi in 1941, Dhruba Nath Joshi had to forgo his studies and subsequently joined Gorkha Pathshala High School as an assistant teacher to support his mother and younger siblings. He married Smt Vijaya Joshi (nee Sapkota) in 1945 who was the granddaughter of Shri Devi Prasad Sapkota and the Daughter of Shri Dinanath Sapkota (an ayurvedic doctor) from Varanasi.

He continued his service as a teacher, and later became the Head-Master (Principal) of Gorkha Pathshala High School, where he taught and administered an entire generation of youths. He also received the 7th National Teachers Award for outstanding service in education in 1968.

Political career

D. N. Joshi was a veteran Congress politician from the state of Meghalaya, India who was a Six-time legislator. He also served as a Cabinet Minister in the state Government of Meghalaya from 1999–2003.

Dhruba Nath Joshi at the age of 30, contested in the Assam State election of 1952 from Shillong erstwhile capital of Assam, where he lost to Rev. J. J. M. Nichols Roy securing the third rank in votes. He played an active part in the hill state movement which led to the creation of the state of Meghalaya.

After Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972, he contested elections and became a member of the state Legislative Assembly after winning the election from then Shillong Cantonment constituency. He represented Mawprem (erstwhile Shillong cantonment) constituency for six consecutive terms for a period of 31 years (1972 - 2003).

Dhruba Nath Joshi held many posts during his political career from being a member of Public committees, Government Chief Whip to serving as a cabinet minister in charge of Parliamentary affairs, weights and measures, Labour and Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Chief Ministership of Shri B. B. Lyngdoh.

He also held the Post of Vice President of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress committee. He was an active member of the All India Congress Party. He held various posts during his political career in All India congress Party. He was also a member of the Congress working committee.

After his retirement from active politics, he held the post of Co-Chairman of Meghalaya State Reforms Commission. Shri D.N. Joshi was the Deputy Chairman of the Meghalaya State Development Commission and was keenly associated with all developmental programmes of the state of Meghalaya. He was also associated with Tourism department as one of its Directors. He dedicated his entire life in the service of the State and committed towards the development of educational institutions. He also worked extensively for the welfare of the Gorkha community in the state as well as outside the state.

During his tenure as Member of Legislative Assembly, he raised many issues relating to the development of the state and its people in particular, He fought for the rights of school teachers and delays in payment of salary of School teachers, He worked towards bringing peace among the society and its various stakeholders during various communal strife faced by the state and the North Eastern region. He worked towards upliftment of women in society for which he helped in forming many social and cultural organizations, He worked towards relief operations during the many social situations where scores of individuals had lost livelihoods and residence during communal strife in the region. He raised the issue of security towards the minority citizens of the state and other North eastern states of the country.

He played a key role in bringing forth the demands of the Indian Nepali Speaking people finally led to the Parliament of India, passing a bill in 1992 that included a provision to make Nepali one of the official languages of India under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India,

Philanthropist

D. N. Joshi as a young man took active interests in social activities. He was associated with various academic institutions, cultural and spiritual organisations. He was the founder secretary of the Assam Gorkha league and the president of the same organization between 1952-1955. He was also the president of All Assam Gorkha League in 1944. He was appointed president of the All Assam Gorkha League in 1944.

He was former President of the Assam Regional Gorkha League. He was a distinguished freedom fighter and a huge inspiration for the nation in general and Indian Gorkhas in particular with his immense contribution to the freedom of India.

From a young age he was an active member holding important posts in various organisations namely hindu Mission, Gorkha League, Management committees of various organisations like School management committees Puja Committees etc. He was an active participant in social movements, in development of various religious centres in Meghalaya, viz, gorkha Durga Mandir, Thakurbadi Krishna Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Satsang Centres in Shillong, Tura, Dalu and other parts of North East India. He formed and founded various sports groups for youths of the state; He was instrumental in developing many socio - cultural organisations in the state to promote Theatre, Music, arts and culture. He had been associated with the Hindu Mission in Shillong which operates a school and an orphanage for under privileged children of the Society. He was also a patron for many socio religious organizations like the Ramakrishna mission, Iskcon, Guru Dwaras etc. He also started a weekly magazine publication ‘Philingo’ in which he was the editor.

He founded the Nepali Sangeet Kala Academy and was a long term president of the organization. He also led the teachers, members and dance troupe to perform in Kathmandu at the Birth celebration of His excellency King Mahendra Bir Bikram Saha Dev of Nepal.

Educationist

He started his career very humbly, as a teacher in the lowest grade in his neighbourhood M.E.School. Very soon he was promoted and became the headmaster of the Gorkha Pathshala school. His endeavor to upgrade the M.E. School paid off and soon after the school became a high school in Shillong.

He was involved with the development of several educational and social institutions in Meghalaya and was associated with the establishment of a college for higher education known as Buddha Bhanu Sarswati Mahavidyalaya (BBS College) in Shillong. He was instrumental in establishing a college for higher education by the name of Buddha Bhanu Sarswati Mahavidyalaya.

He was also instrumental in development of various school and educational institutes in Shillong and encouraged in their growth viz. Mawprem Modern School, Gorkha high School, Arya Samaj Vidyalaya, Hindu Mission School, Kanya Pathshala Shillong, Islamiya School shillong, Madan Laban Nepali School, Umsning Nepali School, Nongthymmai Nepali School, Sankar Deva Educational institute and college etc

Personal Life

He has 4 Daughters and 3 Sons from his Marriage to Smt Vijaya Joshi (nee Sapkota) of Varanasi. He resided in Shillong with his family consisting of sons and grandchildren.

Spiritual Life

Dhruba Nath Joshi was keenly associated with various religious and spiritual sections of the society. He was an active member of many of these organizations, and held the position of president to many of the Puja Committees in Shillong.

Dhruba Nath Joshi led a spiritual life. He was always in search of God. His search ended when he took initiation of Sri Sri Thakur Anukulachandra in the year 1955 and joined Satsang, Deoghar. He was an ardent follower of Sri Sri Thakur Anukulachandra’s Philosophy of Life and Growth. He became a Sahaprati Ritwik (An Instrument to change others to the way of God) in October 1960.

He had deep knowledge in Sanskrit, Nepali, Hindi, Bengali and English. He wrote many poems and composed many devotional songs which are sung even today in Religious congregations. He had deep understanding of traditional Hindu practices and was a practicing vegetarian.

He adhered to the belief of being and becoming, hence believed in the growth of human society in all respects. He believed that education was the only solution, especially for the girl child. Therefore, he particularly endured for the development of ‘Kanya pathshala’ a school for the female child. This school gave an opportunity for education to the girl child belonging to the poorest of the community. With immense effort, D. N. Joshi made it a deficit school.

He encouraged others to end many of the malpractices in the society, such as animal sacrifices, untouchability, etc.

Awards and Recognition

He received awards and recognition from various organizations for his contributions to the society in general. - Govt of Meghalaya awarded the Shri Dhruba Nath Joshi for his contributions in Society and government in 1997 during the statehood day on the 25 anniversary of Meghalaya state. - Govt of Sikkim awarded Shri Dhruba Nath Joshi with ‘Sikkim Samman Award’ in 2004 for his outstanding contributions to society and Gorkha community in particular. - He received the 7th National Teachers Day Award in the year 1968 for his outstanding service in education sector.

External links

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