Birth: 10 April 1956, Lalitpur
Death: 13 June 2021, Lalitpur
Rajesh Hari Joshi didn’t play competitive chess, but his contribution to the development of the sport in Nepal is less than none.
Joshi, who formally began his engagement with the sport 15 years ago after being elected vice-president of the Makwanpur Chess Committee, took charge as the fourth president of the Nepal Chess Association in 2007.
The numbers speak for themselves.
It was under his guidance that the first rating competition was organized in the country. Before that, there were only a handful of internationally rated players all over Nepal. At the end of his two tenures in office, the number had grown to over 600.
Joshi was also keen on getting Nepali arbiters on the international platform. Due to his endeavors, the country now has 10 international arbiters, 20 International Chess Federation (FIDE) arbiters, 50 national arbiters, and 50 arbiters-in-training. There were again only a handful of them before Joshi entered the scene.
His contribution wasn’t limited to the sport’s promotion in Nepal. Joshi also helped spread the game’s global appeal. During the 2014 FIDE Congress, he was elected its member as well as a member of its ethics community. He was re-appointed to the ethics committee in 2018.
Joshi also presided over Asian Zonal 3.2 area that included Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Chess championships such as the International Grandmaster Competition, Asian Zonal Competition, and South-Asian Competition were held under his leadership. Nepal’s Manish Hamal became the first FIDE master in the country during Joshi’s tenure.
Joshi was also actively involved in the cooperative movement. He founded National Co-operative Bank Ltd and served as an advisor to the District Co-operative Union Ltd, Lalitpur, and Multipurpose Co-operative Union Ltd, Lalitpur. He also worked as vice-president of Ganesh Man Singh Memorial Health Co-operative, and executive president of National Development Co-Operative Society Ltd, Lalitpur.
On 13 June 2021, Joshi suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. He is survived by his wife and two children.
