A MAN’S CRUSADE TO SAVE A GENERATION FROM ADDICTION

IN the rugged terrain of Uttarakhand, life is often a daily negotiation with hardship.

- Narendra Sethi

Yet, the journey of Lalit Mohan Joshi stands out as a narrative of grit that transcends mere survival. He has forged a path for himself, his family, and an entire generation of youth. Born into stark poverty where his family often struggled to secure even two square meals a day, Joshi’s story is less a tale of struggle and more a testament to the power of unyielding positivity, echoing the drama of any silver screen epic.

Joshi recounted the almost unbelievable daily commute of his childhood. “To attend school up to the eighth grade at the government Shishu Mandir in Kafligair, I had to walk 10 kilometers daily,” he said. “It took an hour and a half through difficult, winding footpaths, navigating the constant fear of wild animals. There was never a guarantee that I would return safely.”

Joshi did not shy away from detailing social challenges that accompanied his physical ordeal. “At school, some children from affluent families would sometimes look at us with ridicule and make comments about our financial condition and our long daily walk,” he shared.