Tulsi Devi Joshi gets citizenship at the age of 96
Despite her years, Joshi still finds herself in the fields, a habit from her childhood, not due to necessity, but from a deep-rooted love for agriculture.
KATHMANDU: In the remote village of Pithatola, Khaptadchanna Municipality-5, Bajhang, 96-year-old Tulsi Devi Joshi remains deeply attached to farming, even in her advanced age.
Despite her years, Joshi still finds herself in the fields, a habit from her childhood, not due to necessity, but from a deep-rooted love for agriculture.
“I can’t stay inside the house,” she says. “I constantly think about what’s growing in the field, whether it has enough water, if the crops are thriving, and if the soil has been worked properly. That’s when I pick up my plow and go to the fields.”
Joshi, who has devoted her life to farming, is still known as a pioneering farmer in her community. “In the village, we grow pulses, rice, vegetables, and all kinds of crops. If anyone needs seeds, they still come to me,” she adds.
However, despite her significant contributions to farming, Joshi had no knowledge of her rights regarding government documents, such as citizenship.
It was only last Saturday that the District Administration Office visited her home to provide her with a citizenship certificate.
Assistant Chief District Officer Satyakumari Joshi personally delivered the citizenship after gathering all necessary documents.
The official stated that Joshi, born in the rural area of Ghoda Dauna, Thalara Municipality-7 in 1930, had lived her life without citizenship, and upon hearing of her situation, immediately began the process to provide her with the necessary documentation.
Tulsi was married at the age of eight to Padmaraj Joshi, a resident of Khaptadchanna Municipality-5, in 1994 (Bikram Sambat 1994). After 57 years of marriage, she became widowed in 2051 (1994 AD), and has lived alone ever since.
For Joshi, her world revolves around Pithatola, a village located four hours from the district headquarters in Chainpur. “This is my world,” she says. “I’ve only seen Bipra Danda in my hometown and Thamleka in neighboring Bajura. I haven’t seen much else, and even the areas I’ve seen, I haven’t fully explored.”
