Tribute to Kamlesh Kumar Joshi, IAS

1. The sudden and tragic loss of Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Joshi, IAS, DC of Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh who died in the recent chopper crash on 04 August, 2015 is a personal loss to me. He was one year junior to me in school. Having spent six years together in same school, same house and most often same dormitory, it is still hard to believe that he is no more and like everyone, I was also waiting for miraculous escape till last moment.
2. Born on 15 August 1983, Son of a Subedar Major from Bengal Sappers, Kamlesh Kumar Joshi joined the Dholpur Military School, Dholpur in July 1994 in Class 6th. He is the most brilliant student I have met so far. In school he used to write research papers on Theories of space including black hole and send to Stephen Hawkins. He got his first appreciation letter from Stephen Hawkins in Class 8th. Subsequently, he was selected for free research by Polish Academy of Sciences after 12th. We all expected him to become a great Space Scientist one day. However, he lost his mother after 12th Class due to which his father was not keen on sending him outside India at that stage, hence he did not go to Poland.

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1. An academic brilliance, he was a topper throughout. He was an excellent orator and very vibrant and used to take part in all extra curricular activities. He was an excellent human being who used to readily help everyone be it classmate, juniors or seniors. I too used to clarify many physics doubts from him. Even if one used go to him a night prior to exams, he used to help and then study extra hours to revise his syllabus.
2. He cleared NDA Entrance (second in All India Merit) but did not join. Then he cleared AFMC Entrance (5th in merit), did not join. Then he cleared Engineering and did engineering from AIT Pune. After engineering, despite having distinction he did not attend any of the campus interviews. He always wanted to do something unique. Subsequently, he did MBA from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.Then he cleared IAS Entrance in 2009 with 61st Rank. (It was the pinnacle which an Indian student aspires and it was destined and well deserved for him after initial sacrifices due to family constraints).
3. After IAS owing to his merit he could have opted for any cadre as suggested by some batch-mates and enjoyed the perks and privileges. He told he wanted to serve differently and opted for Union Territory and North East cadre known as AGMUT. His first posting was Daman, then Additional DC Lohit and subsequently DC Tirap. He had received his posting for Delhi where he was supposed to move after Independence Day. On that day, he was on the way to Delhi to attend a meeting called by Home Ministry as his district was too affected by Naga Militancy.
4. As DC of Tirap, he was extremely popular among people which is evident from the voluntary participation of locals in the search and rescue operation. The Facebook link below further amplifies the sentiments of people of Tirap during the last few days.
   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1474019799502352/
5. It would be wrong to compare him with anyone at an young age 32 but having spent six years with him I can submit that he had the intellect, aptitude, sincerity, innovative-ness and urge to do something unique similar to the calibre of our dear ex late President Dr Kalam. A great career and life cut short due to this untimely accident.
6. He is survived by his wife Neha (also a graduate of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and presently working with an MNC). Father is settled in Dwarka Sectt 22, Delhi. His Younger brother Rajesh is a Major in the same Regiment from where his father retired in 1999. May god give strength to the bereaved family to come up with this loss.
7. I express my gratitude to all agencies and locals involved in the search and rescue operations whose untiring efforts despite inclement weather and terrain gave us a hope of miracle till last. God bless you Kamlesh, you will always be there in heart and mind.

Ajit Singh
(1993-2000)
House Captain (1999-2000) – Nalanda House, Dholpur Military School – Dholpur

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