Draft:Vinod Kumar Joshi

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Vinod Kumar Joshi
Born (1955-05-16) May 16, 1955 (age 70)
Kungrat, Una district (then Hoshiarpur district, Punjab; now Himachal Pradesh), India
Died7 July 2021
Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
Known forFruit wine technology; Apple pomace valorization; Campus accessibility
SpouseSushma Joshi (m. 1987)
ChildrenBharat Joshi; Sidharath Joshi
Scientific career
FieldsPostharvest technology; Food fermentation; Wine technology
Institutions
  • Quality Control Laboratory, Shimla (Dept. of Horticulture, Himachal Pradesh), 1978–1986
  • Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni (Food Science & Technology), 1986–2015
  • CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR–IHBT), Palampur, 2016–2018

Vinod Kumar Joshi (16 May 1955 – 7 July 2021) was an Indian agricultural and food scientist. His research focused on postharvest technology, fermentation of horticultural products, microbial pigments and the valorization of processing wastes. He authored books and scholarly articles on fruit wine technology and lactic-acid fermentation, and led initiatives on campus accessibility at his university.[1]

Biography

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Vinod K. Joshi was born in Kungrat (then Hoshiarpur district; now Una district), Himachal Pradesh, the eldest of five children. At about age four he contracted poliomyelitis; after corrective surgeries in the mid-1960s he relearned to walk using bilateral callipers and crutches and adapted techniques to manage daily activities and schooling while living with mobility impairment.[1][2]

He completed a BSc (Medical) at DAV College, Jalandhar (1975) and an MSc (Microbiology) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (1977). As an in-service candidate he submitted a PhD (1993) to Guru Nanak Dev University on alcoholic fermentation of apple juice and pomace utilization; the degree was awarded in 1994.[3][4][5]

In February 1987 he married Sushma Joshi; they had two sons, Bharat and Sidharath. He learned to drive a hand-controlled car in the 2000s and continued scholarly work after retirement until his death from post-COVID complications in 2021.[2]

Academic career

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Joshi began his career in 1978 as Senior Technical Assistant (Microbiology) at the Himachal Pradesh Department of Horticulture’s Quality Control Laboratory, Shimla, where he conducted quality testing and small-scale fermentation experiments.[2] In 1986 he joined Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry (Nauni) as a faculty member in postharvest and food science. During his tenure he taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses, established a pilot-scale fruit-processing unit, supervised postgraduate students, delivered extension lectures (All India Radio, Doordarshan) and contributed to departmental infrastructure upgrades; he served as Head of Department from 2008 to 2015.[4][6][7]

After retirement he was associated with CSIR–IHBT, Palampur on projects related to Himalayan bioresource valorization.[8]

Research and editorship

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Joshi’s publications addressed non-grape fruit wines (including cider and plum/pear wines), lactic-acid fermentation of vegetables, microbial pigments and apple-pomace valorization for products such as bioethanol and carotenoids. He authored and edited books and articles in national and international outlets, and served on editorial boards, including association with the International Journal of Food and Fermentation Technology.[9][10] According to publisher pages and author profiles, his published books include titles on fruit-wine production, bioreactor technology and winemaking.[9]

Advocacy and accessibility

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In 2006 Joshi was appointed Nodal Officer for Persons with Disabilities at YSPUHF and was the founding Chairman of the university’s Equal Opportunity Cell. The Cell implemented access improvements (ramps, hand-rails, accessible restrooms), advocated conveyance allowances for mobility-impaired students and staff, organized mock JRF/ARS exams with accommodations and ran workshops on assistive technologies and skills for students with disabilities.[11][5]

Adapting disability and enjoying life

Honours and awards

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Recorded awards and recognitions include:

  • N. N. Mohan Memorial Award (All India Food Preservers' Association) — for research on fruit-based beverages.[12]
  • Kejriwal Award (AIFPA), 1995.[12]
  • NA Pandit Award (AIFPA), 1996 (presented 1998).[12]
  • Dr J. S. Pruthi Award for publication (Indian Food Packer), 2009.[13]
  • Best Paper Award, Indian Society of Hill Agriculture (2010).[14]
  • Himachal Shree (Himotkrash Cultural & Educational Society), 2003.[15]
  • Fellow, Biotechnology Research Society of India (BRSI), 2005.[16]
  • Fellow, Indian Society of Hill Agriculture (on recommendation of the Executive Council), 2011.[7][6]

Selected books

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  • Science and Technology of Fruit Wine Production. Elsevier / ScienceDirect (2017).[9]
  • Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology of Wine. Routledge / CRC (2021).[9]
  • Bioreactor Technology in Food Processing. Routledge (2019).[9]
  • Winemaking: Basics and Applied Aspects. Routledge / CRC (2021).[9]
  • Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables. NIPA (2024).[9]

In the press

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Joshi was profiled in regional newspapers. A multi-page feature in Dainik Bhaskar (20 March 2001, Anil Verma) described his education, corrective surgeries, rehabilitation and early academic work; a later profile in Dainik Jagran (Solan edition) discussed his outreach and campus activities.[1][2][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dainik Jagran (Solan edition). "प्रो. जोशी ने पोलियो को नहीं माना बाधा, वैज्ञानिक बन कर दिखाया" [Prof. Joshi did not consider polio as an obstacle, proved himself as a scientist]. https://www.bhaskar.com/news/him-shi-omc-scientist-pro-bk-joshi-success-story-5009387-nor.html. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Verma, Anil (20 March 2001). (Hindi) प्रो. वी. के. जोशी — संघर्ष और सफलता [Prof V. K. Joshi — struggle and success]. Dainik Bhaskar (Solan / Himachal edition), pp. 1–2. (Scan of original clipping held in private collection.)
  3. ^ Punjab Agricultural University. MSc thesis records (1977). PAU archives. https://www.pau.edu/. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  4. ^ a b Guru Nanak Dev University thesis library. PhD submission (1993) and award (1994) records. https://library.gndu.ac.in/. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Dainik Jagran (Solan edition). "प्रसंस्करण से रुकेगी फल-सब्जियों की बर्बादी : डॉ. जोशी" [Wastage of fruits and vegetables will be stopped by processing: Dr. Joshi]. https://www.jagran.com/himachal-pradesh/solan-11525602.html. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  6. ^ a b "प्रो. जोशी ने पोलियो को नहीं माना बाधा, वैज्ञानिक बन कर दिखाया".
  7. ^ a b Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry (YSPUHF). Staff profile and UHF news / annual reports. http://www.yspuniversity.ac.in/profile/vkjoshi and https://www.yspuniversity.ac.in/pdf/uhf/UHF%20News.pdf. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  8. ^ CSIR–IHBT. Institutional profile and project pages (Joshi association). https://www.ihbt.res.in/. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Publication listings and publisher pages:
  10. ^ International Journal of Food and Fermentation Technology (IJFFT). Editorial board / journal page. https://ijfft.com/journal/editor. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  11. ^ Equal Opportunity Cell, YSPUHF — program reports and activities (2014). https://www.yspuniversity.ac.in/eo-cell. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  12. ^ a b c All India Food Preservers' Association (AIFPA) — award listings and citations (NN Mohan Memorial Award, Kejriwal Award, NA Pandit Award). https://www.bhaskar.com/news/him-shi-omc-scientist-pro-bk-joshi-success-story-5009387-nor.html. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  13. ^ Indian Food Packer — Dr J. S. Pruthi Award reference (May–June 2008 issue). https://www.indianfoodpacker.com/. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  14. ^ Indian Society of Hill Agriculture (ISHA) — conference proceedings and awards (2010). https://www.yspuniversity.ac.in/pdf/uhf/UHF%20News.pdf. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  15. ^ Himotkrash Cultural & Educational Society — Himachal Shree award listing. https://actascientific.com/editorial_popup-asde.php?editor_id=2674. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.
  16. ^ Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI) — Fellows list (2005). https://brsi-portal.squarespace.com/fellows. Accessed 11 Aug 2025.

==External links== * YSPUHF profile: Vinod K. Joshi * Google Scholar profile * IJFFT editorial board * Science and Technology of Fruit Wine Production – Elsevier * Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology of Wine – Routledge * Bioreactor Technology in Food Processing – Routledge * Winemaking: Basics and Applied Aspects – Routledge * Indigenous Fermented Foods of South Asia – Routledge

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