A C Joshi

Amar Chand Joshi (18 September 1908 – 14 February 1971), also known as A. C. Joshi, was an Indian botanist, academician and Indian Civil Service officer, who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; and the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The standard author abbreviation Joshi is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[1]

Early life

Joshi was born on September 18, 1908[2] in Bahadurpur, a suburb of Hoshiarpur in Indian Punjab. His father Ram Kishan Joshi was an Assistant Surgeon in the Punjab Government. Joshi studied at Forman Christian College, Lahore, and completed his BSc Honours (1929) in Botany from Government College, Lahore, and MSc in 1930. He completed his DSc in 1937.

Teaching career

He joined as a demonstrator in Botany at Punjab University, Lahore in 1930[3] and worked till 1931. In 1931 he became Assistant Professor at Banaras Hindu University and later became Professor. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1934, and he was assigned to Uttar Pradesh. In 1936, he was posted as Assistant Collector at Faizabad. In 1945 he was selected as Professor of Botany at Government College, Lahore, and Director of the Punjab University Botanical Laboratory, Lahore. Forced to leave Lahore during the Partition of India in 1947, Joshi took over as Professor of Botany at the newly established Botanical Laboratory at Government College, Hoshiarpur in 1947 where he worked till 1951, after which he became Principal of Government Training College for Teachers at Jullundur. In 1953, Joshi was appointed as Director of Public Instruction (DPI) and Secretary to the Punjab Government, where he worked till 1957.

In 1957, he was appointed Vice Chancellor[4] of Panjab University, Chandigarh, and he served till June 1965. From July 1965-August 1967, he was Adviser for Education in the Planning Commission. In September 1967, he took over as Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, where he served till September 1969.

Last days and death

After leaving Banaras Hindu University, he returned to Chandigarh, where he died on February 14, 1971.

Family

He was married to Sumitra Joshi, and his son Arun Joshi, who was Executive Director, Sri Ram Centre for Industrial and Human Relations, was a famous novelist.

Book

He coauthored a book titled “Lahore District Flora’’ with Shiv Ram Kashyap. It was published by Punjab University in 1936[5].

Memorial

The famous Central Library of Panjab University, Chandigarh is named in his honour as A C Joshi Library[6][7].

References
  1. IPNI.  Joshi.
  2. "Amar Chand Joshi". Indian Academy of Science. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. Randhawa, MS. "Amar Chand Joshi" (PDF). Indian National Science Academy. INSA. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. Arshi, Arshdeep (13 October 2018). "Old-timers share its revival story as Panjab University turns 135". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. Lahore District Flora. Lahore: University of the Punjab. 1936. p. 285.
  6. "A C Joshi Library". Panjab University. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  7. "Panjab University eyes Unesco heritage status for AC Joshi Library". Hindustan Times. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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