Baba Amte
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| NAME | Murlidhar Devidas Amte |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Baba Amte |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Freedom Fighter, Social Worker |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 26 December 1914 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | 9 February 2008 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
| Murlidhar Devidas Amte | |
|
Baba Amte | |
| Born | 26 December 1914 |
| Died | 9 February 2008 |
| Cause of death | |
| Nationality | |
| Other names | Baba Amte |
| Education | |
| Known for | |
| Religious beliefs | |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | |
Baba Amte (Marathi: बाबा आमटे) (December 26, 1914 - February 9, 2008), born Murlidhar Devidas Amte was an Indian social activist who is particularly known for his work for leprosy patients.[1] Baba founded several ashrams (communities) for rehabilitation and treatment of leprosy patients, the disabled, and people from marginalized sections of society. Anandwan ashram (meaning
Baba Amte also devoted his life to many other social causes, the most notable of which were environmental awareness, wildlife preservation and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
| Contents [hide] |
[edit] Early life and family
Baba Amte was born as Murlidhar in wealthy Brahmin jagirdar family of Devidas Amte and Laxmibai Marpakwar on December 26, 1914, at Hinganghat in Wardha District of Maharashtra, India. His father, Devidas was also an British official responsible for district administration and revenue. [2]. His nickname baba, which is an title of respect in Marathi, was given to him by his parents in his childhood out of affection. [3][4]. Baba's autocratic father thought of his as a slacker and wanted him to focus on his studies. But Baba opted to spend more time with his mother helping her in household chores and along with their servants children. This lead to strained relationship between Baba and his father. [2] Baba's involvment with non-social elements embarassed his father but his mother sheilded him against his father wrath. Baba wanted to become a revolutionary and he had to the extent of acquiring a pistol during his childhood [5]
Trained in law, Baba Amte had a lucrative practice at Wardha. It was then that he got involved in Indian freedom struggle and started acting as a defence lawyer for leaders imprisoned in the 1942 Quit India movement. He was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, with whom he spent some time in Sevagram Ashram. Baba Amte was follower of Gandhism for his entire life. He practiced various aspects of Gandhism including weaving a of nd wearing khadi, dedicating his life to the cause of upliftment of the downtrodden classes of society.
In 1946, Baba got married to Sadhana Guleshastri[3], who was later referred to by community members as Sadhanatai or simply Tai ("elder sister" in Marathi). Their two sons, Vikas and Prakash, are both doctors. Both have dedicated their lives to social work and causes similar to those of their parents. Elder son Dr. Vikas Amte runs the Maharogi Sewa Samiti ("Leprosy Service Society"). Vikas, along with his wife Dr. Bharati Amte, coordinates operations between Anandwan and satellite projects while also running a hospital at Anandwan.[6]
Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte run a school and a hospital at Hemalkasa village in the underprivileged district of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. While on a picnic to Bhamragad in Gadchiroli along with his father, Prakash Amte, then a doctor doing his post doctoral studies, was very moved after seeing the misery of Madia Gond tribes in Hemalkasa. In the meanwhile he got married to Dr. Mandakini Amte (later known as Mandatai) who left her government job and moved to Hemalkasa to eventually start a hospital, school and an orphanage for injured wild animals including a lion, leopards and more. Their sons Digant and Aniket are both doctors themselves have decided to dedicate their lives to the same cause.[7][8]. In 2008, Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte, were jointly given the Magsaysay Award for 'Community Leadership' [9].
[edit] Anandwan and the fight against leprosy
Anandwan was the first of the three ashrams started by Baba Amte to treat and rehabilitate leprosy victims from the disadvantaged sections of society. After taking a leprosy orientation course at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Baba Amte began his fight against leprosy. He used to set up about 11 weekly clinics around Warora, in Chandrapur district. Taking his work to the next level, he started the "Anandwan" (
Baba Amte also founded the Somnath and Ashokvan ashrams for treating leprosy patients. The community development project at Anandwan in
Today, Anandwan has two hospitals, a university, an orphanage and also schools for the blind and deaf. The self-sufficient ashram unit has more than 5,000 people residing in it.[4]
[edit] Baba Amte and Gandhism
Baba Amte believed in Gandhism and followed the ideals laid by Gandhi. After his stay at Sevagram, Gandhi's ashram near Wardha, Baba Amte was fascinated by Gandhi and became his disciple. Gandhi conferred upon Baba Amte the title Abhayasadhak (translated as The Fearless Aspirant), for his fight against leprosy.
All his life, Baba Amte was a follower of the Gandhian philosophy and lead a spartan life. He wore khadi clothes from the looms of Anandwan, and ate fruits and vegetables grown in Anandwan. He believed in the concept of a self-sufficient village industry for the empowerment of seemingly helpless people, and successfully brought his ideas into practice when he established Anandwan.
Baba Amte also used Gandhian principles to fight against the government. He used the same non-violent means to fight the Indian government during the Narmada Bachao Andolan that Gandhi used against the British Raj.[11]
In spite of his emulation of Gandhi's social and political work, Baba Amte was himself entirely non-religious, and was an atheist.[12]
[edit]
In 1990, Baba Amte left Anandwan to live along the Narmada river and to join Medha Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement), which fights against the unjust displacement of local inhabitants and damage to the environment on account of the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. Narmada Bachao Andolan, together with Patkar and Baba Amte as its spokespersons, was the 1991 recipient of the Right Livelihood Award[13]
[edit] Death
Baba Amte had not been keeping well for several years in his later life. He was compelled to lie down on a bed for much of the time due to a severe spondylosis condition. In 2007, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Baba Amte died in Anandwan on February 9, 2008 at 4.15 am. As per his last wish, he was buried and not cremated.
Upon his death, the 14th Dalai Lama, among others, expressed his condolences saying, "His demise is a great loss to all of us. I am an admirer of Baba Amte. I vividly remember my visit to his thriving community of handicapped people at Anandvan in 1990".[14]
[edit] Honours and awards
Baba Amte won numerous awards during his life, most notably the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1985. He was chosen for his work-oriented rehabilitation of Indian leprosy patients and other handicapped outcasts.[2] In 1999, he was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for his exemplary work for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients and his concept of the "Shramik Vidyapeeth" (Workers' University) where patients and volunteers work together.
All monetary proceeds from his awards were used for his social projects[15]
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Born: December 26, 1914
Passed Away: February 9, 2008
Contributions
From a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Baba Amte later transformed his life into a social activist. He devoted his entire life to serve the downtrodden people of the society. He left his lucrative profession to join
Life
Muralidhar Devdas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte, was born on 26 December, 1914 in Hinganghat, Wardha district in
He studied Law and started a lucrative practice in Wardha, but was moved by distressed condition of the poor and downtrodden classes of society. Then he relinquished his ceremonial dress and started working with the rag-pickers and sweepers for sometime in Chandrapura district. Later, he resumed practicing but as a "defence lawyer" for the leaders imprisoned in the 1942 Quit India movement.
Amte, like Vinoba Bhave was deeply influenced by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Amte was a constant follower of Gandhiji and practiced various aspects of Gandhism for his entire life.
In 1946, Baba Amte married Sadhana Guleshastri. She was also a believer of humanity and always supported Baba Amte in his social works. She was popularly known as Sadhnatai. 'Tai' in Marathi language means "elder sister". After pursuing a leprosy orientation course at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Baba Amte set up 11 weekly clinics and started working for those struck by leprosy. Later in 1951, Baba Amte was given 250 acres of land by the state government on which Amte founded the Anandvan ashram. Inside the ashram premises, two hospitals, a university, an orphanage and a school for the blind were opened.
Amte's role in 
In 1990, Baba Amte left Anandvan to join Medha Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement). While leaving Anandvan Baba said, "I am leaving to live along the
Baba Amte on Youth
Baba wanted the youth to enlighten themselves with knowledge so that they can understand the meaning and importance of
Awards
The work of Baba Amte, was unanimously praised by many national and international organizations. He was awarded with the United Nations Human Rights Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay award (1985), the Templeton Prize(1990), the Gandhi Peace Prize, and many other humanitarian and environmental prizes. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered as the "Nobel Prize of Asia".
Death
In 2007, Baba Amte was diagnosed with leukemia. After suffering for more than a year, Amte left his mortal body on 9 February, 2008 at Anandvan. Many renowned faces from across the world expressed condolences at the death of the great soul. Unlike Hindu rituals, the body of Baba Amte was buried not cremated.
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MUMBAI: Great social worker and reformer Baba Amte, who spent his life serving leprosy patients and working for their rehabilitation, passed away at 4.15 a.m. on Saturday. The end came at his commune for leprosy patients ‘Anandvan’ at Warora village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. He was 93. Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly known as Baba, was suffering from cancer for the past several years. His health deteriorated two days ago. He is survived by sons Prakash Amte and Vikas Amte, both doctors and are on the same path of service to humanity. They work among the tribals of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. Baba Amte was born on 26 December 1914 in a wealthy family of landlords of Hinganghat in Wardha district of Maharashtra. But as a child he used to play with children of other castes and eat with servants. He was a freedom-fighter whom Gandhiji had called “abhay sadhak” (fearless seeker of truth). It is said that his encounter with a leprosy patients changed his life, and he made their welfare and rehabilitation a life-time mission. He founded a commune called Anandvan Ashram for them at Warora. where he began practising law. Soon his work spread to over 60 villages around and other parts of Baba went to the Kolkata School of Tropical Medicine and learnt how to treat the leprosy patients with the wonder drug diamino-diphenyl sulphone. But above all he educated society to remove the stigma of the disease that had made the life of the patients so miserable. Baba Amte undertook a number of social welfare and reform activities involving youth. He undertook the ‘Bharat Jodo’ movement to unite the country and promote peace, harmony and protection of environment. He joined the Narmada Bachao Andolan to fight for the cause of the tribals. He received many national and international awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Gandhi Peace Prize, Ramon Magsaysay and Templeton Prize. His funeral will be held on Sunday at Anandvan. Printer friendly page |
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