Shrikant Joshi
(Mar 23, 1952 – May 03, 2006)
Shrikant was born and lived his early years in the pristine town of Almora in Kumaon (then in north-western UP, now in Uttaranchal). After completing high school, he came to Delhi University (Hansraj College, North Campus) to pursue his B. Sc. (1976) and then M.Sc. in Zoology (1978). His early exposure to life in the hills, and training in Zoology (entomology being a special interest), was to catapult him to a life of search to do things and help and inspire others to make human conditions better. That was to set him to a life of travelling and working, across different parts of India (yes, Japan, Africa and the UK too in all this) – not just different parts but deep into the lives of people in remote areas where governments would not tread, only NGOs reached out.
He chose to work in the areas of land and water management, in mountain environments and tribal areas, on forest issues, environmental education, mining, tribal agriculture, vermiculture, eco-friendly livelihoods and income generation, traditional health care an endless list. Trained as a professional, he believed that working with people required human values, not a professional tool-kit only; thus he was to work on building capacities to document, train, research, network and create linkages, to market – and get people to make significant things happen, while being there somewhere in the background.
He stayed and left like a migratory bird which comes back to its spawning and nesting site year after year… building many futures in many places.
His vast experience and network in the Development field since the 1970s has been a nursery ground for us to imbibe, learn and draw inspiration from. He was a rare resource person in this field, a great colleague for us and our staff, and a friend in many of our personal and professional journeys.
Here was a man who lives in our words and deeds, reminding us of some of the core values that he cherished and lived out in his lifetime:
- The primacy of human values and relationships is a core of any organizational or societal existence and development.
- Deep humility, search for knowledge and awareness of others and their sensitivities – unpretentious to the world; silently stubborn, uncompromising but no confrontation, deeply human.
- Organic, natural and ecological basis for life.
- Importance of small actions and experiments in demonstrating and igniting wide-ranging and pervasive changes (in contrast to large-scale initiatives and large-fund programmes).
- Meticulousness, and attention to detail on quality of thought, work and processes.
- Personal Integrity, commitment and character.
- Service of the under-privileged – “seva bhaav”.
A rare meshwork that his life was, weaved by the finest of tastes, humblest of virtues, deepest of human concerns, and tallest of principles – inspires us to imbue our work and life endeavours with his humane and people-centric spirit. A life so pristine that some fondly called him Shola-ji – after Shola, the pristine natural mixed forests of South India, no less after the Shola Fellowship of which he was one of the pillars.
One more thing and many faulted him for this: speak not loud, hurt no one, smile and infect others with a playful glee in your eyes. Time has flown by and it has been some years since Shrikant left us, on 3rd May 2006. The last few years have seen so much happen that it has even left all of us wondering, at times, the impact of a person on so many friends. The decision to start a Shrikant Joshi Endowment Fund was spontaneous and the enthusiastic response has been a great positive forward.
Memories
A true environmentalist at heart
A rare human being who did whatever he did with his heart and soul without any expectation in return from OTHERS.
A person who never complained even about his worst enemy
A great soul and a saintly person full of life, always there in the hour of need
Cooking was his forte be it Khichdi or anything it used to be great, he was an expert in making roasted almond fruit-cream
I have an angel on my shoulder.
He whispers in my ear.
His voice is soft and gentle
And no one else can hear.
When I’m tired and lonely
It’s a comfort that he brings.
When I’m filled with happiness
I hear his laughter ring.
My Angel’s very close to me
I even know his name.
And though I cannot see him
I love him just the same.
He now has no more suffering
And gone is all his pain.
I believe with all my heart
We’ll someday meet again.
An Angel’s job is taxing
It’s as hard as it can be.
I hope he doesn’t get too tired
Looking after me.
Yes, my Angel’s with me
From morning till the night.
I know as long as he is here
Everything will be alright.
Selfless, an altruist to the core, perpetual smile on his face ……be it Fab India (ready to buy something or the other each time we went there) or be it Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), one of our favourite hangouts or our exclusive dinners
His innumerable questions abt the daily serials trying to catch up on what he’d missed and not to forget the scrumptuous dishes he would prepare.
Once in a lifetime do u get a chance to meet an angel
I weep as I write this, but that is just because of the finality of his departure and the snapping of corporeal relations and communication. But there is also be plenty to rejoice about. I like to think Shrikant departed happily, looking forward to joining and knowing what lies beyond.
A warm, gentle and affectionate person with principle and firm convictions. He was inquisitive by nature and always made efforts to understand things whether it was biology, other stream of science, social culture and paradigms or human relations. He was always available for all kinds of help to all people who came in his contact whether professional or personal with his warm smiley face.
He was a perfect ‘SHOLA’ as a Shola forest, always standing there without any complaint to friends or enemies and provided warmth and happiness to who ever came in the shade.
I recall his smile – very knowing and mysterious.
full spirited as we know he always was
a lovely person, simple in his ways and completely unpretentious to the world. Mostly quiet but forceful in debate when he felt strongly about something
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle August rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am that swift enlightening rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.