Lucknow: As Pratibha Joshi turns 100 on Thursday, she celebrates more than a birthday — it also mirrors India’s century-long journey. While her family has planned celebrations, district administration will honour her too.Born in 1926, two decades before Independence, Pratibha witnessed the freedom struggle, birth of democracy, political upheavals, technological revolutions and a pandemic that reshaped the world.A resident of Indira Nagar, she remains engaged with current affairs despite weak eyesight and mobility challenges. Her mornings still begin with newspapers and a keen curiosity about the world around her. “When I was young, girls had limits to their dreams. Today, seeing Indian women cricketers create history at Lord’s fills me with pride,” she said.Born in Almora, Uttarakhand (then part of the United Provinces), Pratibha grew up at a time when electricity was scarce and opportunities for girls’ education were limited.“My father encouraged me to study. I would spend seven to 10 hours with books, using lamps and diyas for light,” she recalled.Her academic achievements were remarkable. In 1940, while in Class VI, she topped the United Provinces in the Anglo-Vernacular Middle School Examination and received a gold medal from her headmistress, Miss Ward. Four years later, she again secured first position in the High School board examination.In 1946, she married engineer Tara Charan Joshi and went on to raise three sons and two daughters. During freedom strugggle, she knitted mufflers for revolutionaries.Mahatma Gandhi remains her greatest inspiration. “His message of truth, discipline and self-reliance showed that ordinary people can bring extraordinary change,” she said.She vividly recalls the joy of Independence Day on Aug 15, 1947. “People were happy, emotional and proud,” she said. She also remembers attending a rally in Barabanki addressed by Jawaharlal Nehru after Independence.Over the decades, Pratibha saw India evolve from a newly independent nation into one of the world’s largest democracies. She witnessed the country’s technological transformation from radio sets and black-and-white televisions to computers, smartphones and digital platforms.At 95, she overcame one of her toughest challenges after contracting Covid-19 along with a lung infection, recovering through sheer determination.“My mother’s greatest strength has always been her positivity and resilience,” said her daughter, Smita Pandey. Another daughter, Beenu Joshi, added, “Even today, she follows the news and reads books regularly.” An avid reader, Pratibha continues to enjoy the works of Sharat Chandra, Munshi Premchand and Amritlal Nagar.
