Deep Joshi of Pithoragarh gets prestigious Magsaysay award
We salute the renowned Indian activist Deep Joshi of Pithoragarh, who has been awarded the prestigious Magsaysay Award for 2009. The award has been awarded to him for his pioneering work for the development of rural communities. The award is considered to be the equivalent of the Noble Peace Prize. The Board of Trustees of Ramon Magsaysay Award has in a statement from its Manila Headquarter said that the Award has been granted to 62 year old Deep Joshi for improving the working conditions of thousands of rural people through his NGOs. He has been working amongst the rural people from the core of his heart as also by combining the activities of his brain for their welfare.
Joshi, after declaration of the award has said that he is happy and has given credit of this award to the rural people who worked hard with him. He said that the need of the hour is that educated people should go to the rural areas to work for the rural population. Joshi had his Master’s Degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Master’s Degree in Management for Sloan School MIT. He also worked with System Research Institute, The Ford Foundation etc. He has an experience of 30 years in working in the rural areas. He has also been advising the Government on eradication of poverty. He is also the co-founder of Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN). For the present he is honorary independent consultant for this NGO. Joshi has been awarded the title of Development Professional
His early childhood was humble. He used to go to the Jungle with the cows. His younger sister Saroj Ojha and her husband Dr. A.B. Ojha were glad to hear the news about Joshi’s getting the Magsaysay award. Deep Joshi had his early education in Gartir Primary School. He went to Nainital for his High School and Intermediate education. He graduated from Nainital itself. In the meanwhile he was selected for Moti Lal Nehru Engineering College. He got Gold Medal in Engineering. He became a Lecturer in this College itself. Latter he went to USA to Study MBA in Mega Technical Institute. He got married their. Presently he is residing at Gurgaon (Delhi). At Delhi he established an Institution called PRADAN. He had been to Almora to meet his sister four years back. His father Hari Krishna Joshi had purchased an Estate at Puryag, which is near Gartir. Joshi’s five brother and 2 sisters had their early life at this Estate. At present in this Estate Deep’s elder brother Bhagwati Prasad lives. His younger brother Chandra Shekhar is Chief Conservator of Forest at Maharashtra, whereas another brother Vinod Joshi is Bank Manager in Shahjahanpur.
A sense of ecstasy prevails amongst the hill people on this spectacular achievement of Deep Joshi. He has filled the hill people with a sense of pride by his winning the Asia’s Noble Peace Prize, i.e. the Magsaysay award. (D.N.Barola)
