Sri Vijaya Puram, March 29: Condolences poured in from across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Sunday following the demise of Smt Hansa Joshi, mother of Lieutenant Governor Admiral D K Joshi, with political leaders and organisations expressing grief over the loss.
Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray conveyed his sorrow in an official condolence message, describing the loss as immense and irreparable. In his message addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Ray said the passing of a mother leaves a void that cannot truly be filled and acknowledged the deep emotional pain such a loss brings.
He said a mother’s love, care and blessings remain unmatched, and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul. He also extended his sympathies to the bereaved family and wished them strength and courage in this difficult time.
The Andaman Association of Tour Operators also expressed grief over the passing of Hansa Joshi. In a statement, AATO President M Vinod, along with members of the association, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Lieutenant Governor and his family.
The association described the demise as a significant personal loss and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace. It also expressed hope that the family would find the strength to bear the loss.
The Andaman Nicobar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ANCCI) extended its heartfelt condolences through its President Dr. K. Chandrasekar and General Secretary Madan Lall. In a statement, the Chamber, along with all its members, expressed profound grief over the passing of Late Smt. Hansa Joshi.Describing the loss as deeply saddening, the ANCCI fraternity conveyed its sincere sympathies to the Lieutenant Governor and his family. The Chamber prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to endure the irreparable loss.
Meanwhile, TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of ANTCC, expressed deep sadness over the demise. In his message, he described the loss of a mother as one of life’s deepest sorrows, creating an irreplaceable void that words can scarcely console.Bhasker noted that a mother’s love, care and blessings remain eternal and continue to guide one’s life. Extending his heartfelt condolences, he prayed for strength and courage for the bereaved family and for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Admiral D K Joshi (Retd.) has been serving as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since October 8, 2017, making him one of the longest-serving constitutional heads of the Union Territory in recent years. Official profiles note that he was also designated Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, a role that tied him closely to the strategic and infrastructure agenda of the islands. Born on July 4, 1954, in Almora, Uttarakhand, he has now spent more than eight years in the islands in his gubernatorial role.
Before taking over as Lieutenant Governor, Joshi had a long and distinguished naval career. A specialist in anti-submarine warfare, he was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy in 1974 and later served as the 21st Chief of Naval Staff from August 31, 2012, to February 26, 2014. Public accounts of his service have described him as a disciplined, exacting officer with a strong sense of professional accountability, a reputation that stayed with him through senior command assignments in the Navy and later public life.
The Wave Andaman also expressed its condolences, standing in solidarity with the Lieutenant Governor and his family in their moment of grief.
The outpouring of condolences from trade bodies, political leaders and civil society reflects the collective grief and solidarity of the islands during this period of mourning.
