Dr. Saraswati Joshi was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in 1937, into a traditional Brahmin family of Pt. Mangi Lal Sukhwal and Mrs. Kesar Kunwar Sukhwal. She received her upbringing and primary education from her maternal grandfather, Pt. Onkar Lal Pandey, in Varanasi at Bangali Tola, Rana Mahal of the Maharaja of Udaipur. She was married to Dr. Vraj Raj Joshi, son of the late Mahamahopadhyay Prof. Ram Pratap Shastri, the Head of the Dept. of Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit at the University of Nagpur. Dr. Vraj Raj Joshi was a law graduate, had a Ph.D. in economics, and worked as a statistical officer in Delhi. In 1965, he was appointed to teach Hindi as a foreign language at the Institut National des Langues et Civilizations Orientales (INALCO, Paris, France; known as ‘LanguesO’ at that time) from where he retired as Maître de Conférences. He also taught Indian economics at INALCO and SciencesPo (formerly École Libre des Sciences Politiques). Unfortunately, he passed away in 1995. Their son, Dr. Rajiv L. Joshi, D.Sc. (Thèse d’État), is a Director of Research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), conducting research in neuroscience at the Collège de France in Paris. His wife, Mrs. Vandana Joshi, is dedicated to cancer research and works at the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) at the University of Evry-Paris Saclay). They are blessed with two children: Anjali, who works as an Advisor and Alliances Manager in an IT company in Paris, and Abhishek, who works as a Business Developer in a leading digital payments firm in France. Their daughter, Dr. Sadhna Joshi, D.Sc. (Thèse d’État), is Professor Emerita at the University of Toronto and Chief Scientific Officer at Biolyse Pharma in Canada. Her husband, late Dr. Ram N. Sukhwal, become a Docteur-Ingénieur from Paris, France, and worked as an Engineer in Canada. Their son, Raman, is studying.

Study of French Language and Civilization, Appointments, and Promotions:

Her pursuit of university education was interrupted after her marriage due to familial obligations. Nevertheless, her passion for self-study flourished as she immersed herself in the scholarly works of her father-in-law, Prof. Ram Pratap Shastri, a notable Sanskrit scholar. In 1965, when her husband went to Paris, immediate relocation wasn’t feasible for her due to commitments regarding their children’s education. Consequently, she remained in India and embarked on further studies while residing at her paternal home.

In 1967, she joined her husband in Paris and made the decision to pursue studies in the French language, civilization, phonetics, and audio-visual systems with the intention of eventually teaching French in India. However, in 1969, Prof. Catherine Thomas-Weinberger appointed her as a ‘Répétitrice’ for teaching Hindi as a foreign language in the Département d’Asie du Sud at INALCO; known as ‘LanguesO’ at that time), affiliated with Sorbonne University. Subsequently, she also seized the opportunity to teach in the Département de Civilisation de l’Inde. Through her research and publications, despite maintaining her Indian citizenship, Dr. Joshi became ‘Maître de Langue Étrangère’ and was then tenured and promoted to ‘Assistante d’Enseignement Supérieur’ and eventually to ‘Maître de Conférences’.

A Golden Opportunity to Serve Indian Language and Culture:

At INALCO, approximately ninety-three ancient languages are taught alongside their respective cultures. In addition to students with a keen interest in literature, culture, and linguistics, there are those preparing for competitions in the French Foreign Services, aspiring to serve in French embassies and become ambassadors. Consequently, Dr. Joshi was privileged to maintain her connection with the Hindi language, literature, and Indian culture while residing in France.

Collaboration in the ‘Dictionnaire Général Hindi-Français’, ‘Parlons-Hindi’, and other books:

Teaching Hindi as a foreign language posed significant challenges in 1969, as fundamental resources such as a French-Hindi dictionary were scarce. Dr. Joshi took proactive measures to develop teaching materials tailored to meet the specific needs of her students. Under the direction of Prof. Nicole Balbir, the esteemed ‘Dictionnaire Général Hindi-Français’ was published, marking a significant milestone. Additionally, she collaborated with Prof. Annie Montaut on the creation of ‘Parlons-Hindi’, a textbook designed specifically for teaching Hindi as a foreign language.

Furthermore, her research extended into the realms of oral literature, Indian civilization and culture, ethnology, etc., resulting in numerous publications in various esteemed journals and books. For instance, her articles found their place in journals such as ‘Adyatan’ and ‘La Lettre de LanguesO’, which were published by renowned research centres including the ‘Centre de Hautes Études sur l’Afrique et l’Asie Modernes’, ‘Centre de Recherche sur l’Oralité’, ‘Centre de Recherche et d’Étude sur le Sous-Continent Indien Contemporain’, and INALCO.

She actively contributed to and authored significant works released by INALCO and CNRS. These encompassed books such as ‘Le Rajasthan: Ses Dieux, ses Héros, son Peuple’, a tribute to Dr. Vraj Raj Joshi, published under the guidance of Prof. Annie Montaut, and ‘Cuisines d’Orient et d’ailleurs’ (published by Glénat, released in commemoration of INALCO’s bicentennial anniversary). Additionally, she made notable contributions to other books, including ‘Odeurs du Monde, Écriture de la Nuit’ (published by l’Harmattan) and ‘Images du Corps dans le Monde Hindou’ (published by CNRS Editions).

Contribution to Hindi Teaching and Various Activities at INALCO:

Dr. Joshi maintained active engagement in various committees and programs of the department and centres within the institution. These include the ‘Conseil de Département de l’Asie du Sud’, ‘Conseil de l’INALCO’, ‘Commission du Personnel de l’INALCO’, and research teams such as ‘La Femme Hindoue et les Autres : Comparatisme et Imaginaire’, ‘Le Corps en Asie du Sud’, ‘Cuisines d’Orient’ et ‘Nourritures Interdites’. Additionally, she contributed to entities like the ‘Centre d’Études de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud’, ‘Centre de Recherche : CRESCIC’, ‘Équipe de Traduction Littéraire’, ‘Centre de Recherche sur l’Oralité’, ‘Association des Répétiteurs et des Assistants’, and ‘AMOPA’ (L’Association des Membres de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques).

Ph.D. on Research Related to the Religious Practices of Hindu Women of Rajasthan:

During her research, she amassed substantial material on the religious practices, festivals, fasts, stories, traditions and rituals of Rajasthani Hindu women, documented in Hindi, Mevadi, and Marwadi languages. Under the guidance of Prof. Jean Luc Chambard, she authored her thesis titled ‘Les Pratiques Religieuses des Femmes Hindoues du Rajasthan’ in French, spanning approximately 800 pages, and earned her Ph.D. with ‘Mention très honorable’. This thesis stands as a homage to her late husband, Dr. Vraj Raj Joshi. Upon its publication in CD format, the title was modified to ‘La Femme Hindoue en Quête de Liberté à Travers la Religion’ (Hindu Women, in Search of Liberty through Religion).

Source of Strength and Inspiration:

Her research remained intricately intertwined with the realms of Hindi language, literature, and various facets of Indian culture, civilization, and oral literature. Rooted in materials gathered from Rajasthani traditional women, expressed in languages such as Mewadi and Marwadi, her work delved deep into the essence of their experiences and traditions. Through extensive interactions and dialogues conducted during interviews with women spanning diverse social sectors, castes, ages, and classes, Dr. Joshi gained profound insights into their lives. Her engagements extended beyond mere observation of women leading conventional household lives. She also connected with individuals well-versed in modern ideologies, possessing deep knowledge and self-reliance. This multifaceted engagement allowed her to empathize with their experiences and emotions, which began to find expression in her Hindi and Rajasthani poetry collections such as ‘Aparajita’ and ‘Mook-Sadhana’. In addition to verses celebrating divine reverence, the poems featured in these books also delve into the lives of illustrious women such as Sita, Shakuntala, Sanjha, Rati, Padmini, and others, serving as beacons of strength and inspiration for Indian women. Furthermore, her poetry collection ‘Shatarangi Laharen’ explores themes of family, love, relationships, friendship, and destiny, casting a spotlight on the intricate bonds woven within familial and social spheres. Similarly, ‘Vani Ke Swar’ endeavors to illuminate the spectrum of emotions associated with life and death, rebirth, nature, and destiny, interwoven with hymns of praise. Lastly, her poetry anthology ‘Aanchal Ke Bikhere Moti’ encapsulates a myriad of emotions, situations, and mental states reflective of women’s lives from the beginning to end.

Recognition for Cultural, Literary, and Research Contributions:

At events such as ‘Kavi Sammelan’ and International Hindi literary conferences, Dr. Joshi was bestowed with awards by the ‘Vishv Hindi Sansthan’. These accolades include titles such as ‘Vishv Hindi Sahitya-Rathi’, ‘Vishv Hindi Katha-Shilpi’, ‘Vishv Hindi Sahitya-Stambh’, ‘Vishv Hindi Sahitya-Shiromani’, and ‘Sahityakar Samman’. Similarly, she was honored with the ‘Pravasi Bharat Ratn’ award by the ‘Global Hindi Sahitya Shodh Sansthan, Bharat’, and recognized with the ‘Hindi Sahitya va Bhasha Gaurav’ award by ‘Global Hindi Jyoti, California, USA’.

‘Chevalier’ (dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques)’ conferred by the French Government:

She was conferred with the title of ‘Chevalier dans Ordre des Palmes Académiques’ (Knight in the Order of Academic Palms) by decree of the Prime Minister of France, despite her Indian citizenship.