Joshi is a surname used by the

Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests ( purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers ( ...

(caste) in

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

and

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

. Joshi is also sometimes spelled as Jyoshi. The name is derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominalization, nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cul ...

word ''Jyotishi'' meaning "astrologer" or a person who practices ''

jyotisha Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is on ...

''. ''Jyotisha'' refers to Hindu astrology and astronomy and is derived from ''jyotish'' ("light bringer or reflect light like sun").James Lochtefeld (2002), "Jyotisha" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, , pages 326–327 Joshi is a common family name in

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital city, capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar, and Rewa, India, Rewa being the othe ...

, Maharashtra,

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of Sc ...

Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in the North India, northern part of India. It is often referred to as t ...

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to th ...

and

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...

in India and Nepal. In Kathmandu valley, the surname Joshi is used by Newar Srēṣṭhas.

Notable individuals

Politicians, civil servants and military

Alok Joshi Alok Joshi was the former Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing. Biography Hailing from Lucknow, he graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru University, (JNU), completed his postgraduation in political science and then joined the Indian Police Serv ...

, Indian police officer and intelligence agency chief *

A. C. Joshi Amar Chand Joshi (18 September 1908 – 14 February 1971), also known as A. C. Joshi, was an Indian botanist and academic administrator, who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; and the Vice-Chancellor of Ban ...

(1908–1971), Indian botanist and Civil Service officer * Banwari Lal Joshi (1936–2017), Indian civil servant and state governor * Bhanu Bhakta Joshi, Nepalese politician *

Bhojraj Joshi Bhojraj Joshi is a Nepalese politician, belonging to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). He was elected to the Pratinidhi Sabha The Pratinidhi (the Viceroy) was an important member of the ministry in the Maratha Empire. Th ...

, Nepalese politician * General

B.C. Joshi General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (5 December 1935 – 19 November 1994) was the 17th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army. He is the only Chief of the Indian Army to die in office, and until the 2021 death of General ...

(1935–1994), Chief of the Indian Army *

C. P. Joshi Dr. C. P. Joshi (born 29 July 1950) is an Indian politician. He was born in a Brahmin family in Nathdwara, Rajasthan and he is a member of the Indian National Congress. He is the current Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Previousl ...

, Indian politician (Indian National Congress), former Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India *

Devendra Kumar Joshi Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, NM (born 4 July 1954) is the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Vice Chairman of Islands Development Agency (IDA). He was an Admiral in the Indian Navy and served ...

, Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy * Govinda Raj Joshi, Nepalese politician (Nepali Congress) and former Minister * Hari Dev Joshi, 11th, 16th and 18th Chief Minister Of Rajasthan * Hora Prasad Joshi, Nepalese politician *

Manohar Joshi Manohar Gaju Joshi (born 2 December 1937) is a prominent politician from the state of Maharashtra. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999 and Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2002 to 2004. He is one of the prominent leaders ...

, 12th Chief Minister of Maharashtra *

Murli Manohar Joshi Murli Manohar Joshi (born 5 January 1934) is an Indian politician. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of which he was the President between 1991 and 1993, and the former Member of Parliament for Kanpur parliamentary constitu ...

, Indian politician (Bharatiya Janta Party), chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the parliament *

Nabindra Raj Joshi Nabindra Raj Joshi ( ne, नविन्द्रराज जोशी; 8 January 1964 – 26 March 2021) was a Nepali politician and former minister for industry. Joshi joined politics as a student, becoming the general secretary of Nepal ...

, Nepali politician *

Pralhad Joshi Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi (born 27 November 1962) is an Indian politician who is the current union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines of India, since 30 May 2019 and Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, since 2004, representin ...

, Indian politician (BJP) *

Puran Chand Joshi Puran Chand Joshi (14 April 1907 – 9 November 1980), one of the early leaders of the communist movement in India. He was the general secretary of the Communist Party of India from 1935 to 1947. Early years Joshi was born on 14 April 1907, i ...

, Indian communist leader *

Rita Bahuguna Joshi Rita Bahuguna Joshi (born 22 July 1949) is an Indian politician and was cabinet minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. She was the president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee from 2007 to 2012. She is the daughter of Hemwati Na ...

, Indian politician (BJP) *

Sharad Anantrao Joshi Sharad Anantrao Joshi (3 September 1935 – 12 December 2015) was an Indian politician who founded the Swatantra Bharat Paksh party and ''Shetkari Sanghatana'' (farmers' Organisation), He was also a Member of the Parliament of India representin ...

, Indian agricultural activist and politician (Shetkari Sanghatana) * Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, Indian army, Chief of staff of Northern army command

Writers, educators and scholars

Anandi Gopal Joshi Dr. Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (31 March 1865 – 26 February 1887) was the first Indian female doctor of western medicine. She was the first woman from the erstwhile Bombay presidency of India to study and graduate with a two-year degree in west ...

(1865–1887), first Indian woman to be awarded a western medicine degree * Angur Baba Joshi (1932–2020), Nepalese scholar, first female School Principal of Nepal * Anupam Joshi, American cybersecurity expert and Professor and Chair of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland *

Aravind Joshi Aravind Krishna Joshi (August 5, 1929 – December 31, 2017) was the Henry Salvatori Professor of Computer and Cognitive Science in the computer science department of the University of Pennsylvania. Joshi defined the tree-adjoining grammar form ...

, Professor of Computer and Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania * Arun Joshi, Indian novelist * Chintaman Vinayak Joshi, Marathi humorist, author of "Chimanrao" series of books * Girija Prasad Joshi, Nepalese Newari language writer *

Indra Joshi Indra Joshi is a British physician who is Director of Artificial Intelligence for NHSX and a founding ambassador of One HealthTech. She supports NHSx with digital health initiatives in the National Health Service in England. During the COVID ...

, British physician *

Lakshman Shastri Joshi "Tarkateertha" Lakshman Shastri Joshi (27 January 1901 – 27 May 1994) was an Indian scholar, of Sanskrit, Hindu Dharma, and a Marathi literary critic, and supporter of Indian independence. Mahatma Gandhi chose him to be his principal ad ...

, Indian scholar of Sanskrit, Hindu Dharma, and a Marathi literary critic * Mahadevshastri Joshi, Marathi writer *

Mangal Raj Joshi Mangal Raj Joshi (1920–2005) was the Royal Astrologer of Nepal, whose family worked for more than 20 generations for the Nepalese kings. Dr. Joshi holds a Ph.D. in Urban Study and Planning, and was a professor at Patan College. Joshi was also ...

, Nepalese royal astrologer *

Manohar Shyam Joshi Manohar Shyam Joshi (9 August 1933 – 30 March 2006) was a Hindi writer, journalist and scriptwriter, most well known as the writer of Indian television's first soap opera, '' Hum Log'' (1984) and his early hits '' Buniyaad'' (1987), ''Kakaji ...

, post-modern Hindi writer and Father of Indian soap operas *

Prasoon Joshi Prasoon Joshi (born 16 September 1971) is an Indian poet, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and communication specialist and marketer. He is the CEO of McCann World group India and Chairman APAC (Asia Pacific), a subsidiary of the global mar ...

, Hindi lyricist * Prem Lal Joshi, Indian research scholar of Accounting and writer * Ramlal Joshi, Nepalese author and writer * Ruchir Joshi, author and filmmaker *

S. T. Joshi Sunand Tryambak Joshi (born June 22, 1958) is an American literary critic whose work has largely focused on weird and fantastic fiction, especially the life and work of H. P. Lovecraft and associated writers. Career His literary critic ...

, Indian-American editor, critic, and scholar *

Satya Mohan Joshi ''Satya'' ( Sanskrit: सत्य; IAST: ''satya)'' is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as truth, essence.A. A. Macdonell, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Asian Educational Services, , pp. 330–331 It also refers to a virtue in Indian reli ...

(1920–2022), Nepalese author and writer, first recipient of Madan Puraskar *

Sharad Joshi Sharad Joshi was an Indian poet, writer, satirist and a dialogue and scriptwriter in Hindi films and television. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990. Biography Early life and education Sharad Joshi was born on 21 May 1931 in Ujjain, Madhya ...

, Hindi writer and satirist, Padma Shri awardee * Shekhar Joshi, Hindi author *

Shukraraj Shastri Shukra Raj Shastri (Nepali: ) (born Shukra Raj Joshi) (1894–24 January 1941) was a Nepalese intellectual and fighter for democracy who was executed by the autocratic Rana dynasty. He is one of the four martyrs of the Nepalese revolution that t ...

(born Shukra Raj Joshi), Nepalese author, social reformer and political martyr *

Suresh Joshi Suresh Hariprasad Joshi ( gu, સુરેશ હરિપ્રસાદ જોષી) was an Indian novelist, short-story writer, literary critic, poet, translator, editor and academic in the Gujarati language. Along with his teaching career, h ...

, Gujarati poet, writer and literary critic * Sushma Joshi, Nepalese writer and filmmaker *

Umashankar Joshi Umashankar Jethalal Joshi () (21 July 1911 – 19 December 1988) was an Indian poet, scholar and writer known for his contributions to Gujarati literature. He wrote most of his works in Gujarati. Biograpy Early years Umashankar Joshi was ...

, Gujarati poet

Artists and performers

Aashirman DS Joshi Aashirman DS Joshi ( ne, आशिरमान डी. एस. जोशी) is a Nepalese film actor. He made his feature film debut with '' Gangster Blues'' (2017). He was praised as a debutant and won the National Award and Lux Kamana Film Awa ...

, Nepalese actor *

Anshuman Joshi Anshuman Joshi is an Indian actor who works in Marathi language films. He began his career with the movie ''Shala'' in 2011. He later acted in the Malayalam movie '' Thankam'' in 2023. The name of his character was also Anshuman Joshi. He pl ...

, Marathi actor * Ayushman Joshi, Nepalese actor *

Bhimsen Joshi Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi BR (; ; 4 February 1922 – 24 January 2011), also known by the honorific prefix Pandit, was one of the greatest Indian vocalists from Karnataka, in the Hindustani classical tradition. He is known for the ''khayal ...

Bharat Ratna The Bharat Ratna (; ''Jewel of India'') is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinctio ...

, vocalist of

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sit ...

Chetan Joshi Chetan Joshi is a noted flautist in the Hindustani classical music tradition. He was born in Jharia and brought up at Noamundi and Bokaro Steel City. He was trained under Late Acharya Jagadish (Bokaro), Late Pandit Bholanath Prasanna (Allahabad) ...

, flautist * Damayanti Joshi, Kathak dancer and guru *

Dev Joshi Dev Joshi (born 28 November 2000) is an Indian television actor known for portraying the role of Baal Veer in Sony Sab's ''Baal Veer'' and ''Baalveer Returns''. He has worked in more than 20 Gujarati movies and many advertisements. He is also kn ...

, Indian television actor. *

Dilip Joshi Dilip Joshi (born 26 May 1968) is an Indian film, television actor. He has appeared in several Indian movies and television series. Joshi has performed mostly in comedy roles, he initially worked in side roles in Bollywood films and then rose to ...

(born 1969), Hindi and Gujarati actor *

Gajananrao Joshi Gajanan Anant Joshi, better known as "Gajananbuwa Joshi", (January 30, 1911 – June 28, 1987) was a vocalist and violinist in the field of Hindustani music. Early life and background Gajananrao Joshi came from a family of musicians. His gra ...

, violinist and vocalist Hindustani classical music *

Gayatri Joshi Gayatri Joshi is an Indian actress, video jockey and former model in Hindi films. She starred in the 2004 film ''Swades'', her only acting credit to date. She is married to businessman Vikas Oberoi since 2005. Career Joshi started her career ...

, Indian Actress *

Gulki Joshi Gulki Joshi is an Indian television actress best known for portraying S.H.O. Haseena Malik in Sony SAB's '' Maddam Sir''. Career She was first seen in Zee TV's '' Phir Subah Hogi'' and in Life OK's ''Nadaan Parindey Ghar Aaja''. She also por ...

(born 1980), Indian television actress *

Indira Joshi __NOTOC__ Indira may refer to: People * Indira (name) Films and books * ''Indira'', an 1873 novella by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee * ''Indira'' (film), directed by Suhasini Manirathnam * ''Indira'' (1989 film), a Hindi film (Hema malini as Ind ...

, Nepali singer and model * Malina Joshi, Nepali beauty pageant and model * Manoj Joshi (born 1945), Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi Actor *

Manasi Joshi Roy Manasi Joshi Roy is an Indian film and television actress known for her roles in '' Saaya'', '' Gharwali Uparwali'' and ''Kkusum''. She is the wife of actor Rohit Roy, sister of actor Sharman Joshi and daughter of Gujarati theatre actor Arvi ...

(born 1968), Indian television actress *

Nivedita Joshi Nivedita Joshi-Saraf ( Joshi; born 10 January 1965) is an Indian actress who works in Marathi and Hindi language films and television serials. She is married to actor Ashok Saraf. Joshi-Saraf has played Asawari in the Marathi-language serial ...

, Marathi actress *

Pallavi Joshi Pallavi Joshi (born 4 April 1969) is an Indian actress, writer, and film producer who works primarily in Hindi films and television. In a career spanning across films and television, Joshi is the recipient of such accolades as two National Fil ...

(born 1969), Indian Actress, winner of National award for the film ''Woh Chokri'' *

Poonam Joshi Poonam Joshi is an Indian television Indian soap opera, soap opera actress. She has performed in TV shows such as ''Bhabhi (TV series), Bhabhi'', ''Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'', ''Kahiin To Hoga'', ''Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar''. She is a follower ...

(born 23 October 1970), Indian television actress *

(born September 1971), Indian lyricist *

Purbi Joshi Purbi Joshi (born 19 August 1974) is an Indian television actress and voice-dubbing actress who speaks Hindi, comedian, performer and anchor of television shows. Biography Purbi Joshi is a daughter of actors Pravin Joshi and Sarita Joshi. ...

(born 1974), Indian actress *

Rohan Joshi Rohan Joshi is a YouTuber. He was one of the key people of the creative agency ''All India Bakchod''. Joshi scripted and starred in several YouTube sketches for ''All India Bakchod'', was one of the co-creators of the satirical news comedy show ...

Indian Stand-up comedian, performer *

Santosh Joshi Pandit Santosh Joshi (born July 2, 1960) is an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical music, Hindustani classical tradition. He is a member of the Joshi Gharana, a branch of the Lucknow gharana (tabla), Lucknow tabla gharana. He is known f ...

, vocalist of

Sharman Joshi Sharman Joshi (born 28 April 1979) is an Indian actor and television presenter who predominantly works in Hindi movies, known for his roles in films like ''Rang De Basanti'' (2006), '' Golmaal'' (2006), ''Dhol'' (2007) and ''3 Idiots'' (2009). ...

(born 1979), Bollywood actor * Shikha Joshi (1976-2015), Indian actress who committed suicide *

Shivangi Joshi Shivangi Joshi (born 18 May 1998) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television. She made her acting debut with ''Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi'' portraying Trisha in 2013. Joshi is best known for her portrayal of dual role Na ...

(born 1995), Indian television actress *

Spruha Joshi Spruha Joshi (born 13 October 1989) is an Indian television, film, and theatre actress, the television anchor who works in the Marathi film and television industry. She is also a poet and lyricist for films. Early life and education Spruha Joshi ...

, Marathi actress *

Swwapnil Joshi Swapnil Joshi (Marathi pronunciation: ʋəpniːl d͡ʒoʃiː is an Indian film and television actor, in Hindi and Marathi languages. At nine years old, he appeared in the Ramanand Sagar show ''Uttar Ramayan''. He has done some of the most suc ...

(born 1977), Marathi actor *

Tulip Joshi Tulips (''Tulipa'') are a genus of spring-blooming perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes (having bulbs as storage organs). The flowers are usually large, showy and brightly coloured, generally red, pink, yellow, or white (usually in warm ...

, Indian Actress, model * V Joshi, (AKA Joshiy) Indian director known for his

Malayalam film Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam ...

s *

Vinayak Joshi Vinayak Joshi is an Indian film, television, web-series and theatre actor, Winner of best director in Thespo8. Former Radio jockey, Former Head of Digital communication at Flipkart, host of Saregamapa season 6, lead host of IPL 2019 in Starsport ...

, Kannada actor

Sports

* Aniruddha Joshi, Indian cricketer * Harshvardhan Joshi, Indian mountaineer *

Naresh Joshi Naresh Joshi is a former Nepal international footballer. He holds the record as he is first and only hat trick scorer for Nepal in SAFF Championship. Naresh Joshi scored 3 goals in Nepal's 3–2 victory against Sri Lanka which helped Nepal to pro ...

, Nepalese football *

Sunil Joshi Sunil Bandacharya Joshi (; born 6 June 1970) is an Indian former cricketer and former selector of the India cricket team. He played as an all-rounder who bowled slow left arm spin and batted left-handed. Sunil Joshi was appointed as chief se ...

, cricketer who played for India national cricket team as a left arm spinner in one day internationals and test match cricket *

Sunil Lal Joshi Sunil Lal Joshi (30 May 1964 – 25 June 2017) was a Nepalese weightlifter from Kathmandu. Joshi represented Nepal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he competed in the men's super-heavyweight category. Athletic career At the ...

, Nepali Olympic weightlifter *

Uday Joshi Udaykumar Chaganlal Joshi (born 23 December 1944, in Rajkot) is an Indian former cricketer active from 1965 to 1983 who played for Sussex. He appeared in 186 first-class matches as a right-handed batsman who bowled off breaks. He scored 2,2 ...

, Indian cricketer who played for Sussex

Social service

* Narayan Malhar Joshi, Indian trade union leader and founder of the Social service league * Sister Nirmala Joshi, Nepalese Catholic sister, former head at Missionaries of Charity

References

{{Chhetri communities Indian surnames Marathi-language surnames Gujarati-language surnames Surnames of Nepalese origin Khas surnames