Murlidhar Devidas Amte is popularly known as 'Baba Amte' was Indian Social Activist who worked for the rehabilitation and empowerment of people suffering from leprosy. He was born in the city of Hinganghat in Wardha District of Maharashtra on 26 December 1914.
| About Baba Amte | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 26, 1914 |
| Place of Birth | Hinganghat, Wardha, Maharashtra |
| Parents | Devidas Amte (Father) and Laxmibai (Mother) |
| Spouse | Sadhana Guleshastri |
| Children | Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Vikas Amte |
| Education | B.A.LL.B from Wardha Law College |
| Religious Views | Hinduism |
| Died | February 9, 2008 |
| Place of death | Anandwan, Maharashtra |
Early Life and Education
Muralidhar Devidas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte, was born on December 26, 1914 in Hinganghat, Wardha district in Maharashtra. He was the eldest son of Devidas and Laxmibai Amte. His father Devidas was a powerful bureaucrat with the pre-independence British administration and a wealthy landowner in the Wardha district. Being the first child of an affluent family, Muralidhar was born amidst much affection and was never denied a single thing by his parents since childhood. His parents lovingly called him ‘Baba’ and the name stuck with him. At a very young age, Baba Amte owned a gun and used to hunt wild boar and deer. Later, he went on to own an expensive sports car, cushioned with panther skin. Amte studied law and earned his LLB degree from Law College in Wardha. He set up a law practice in his native town which soon became successful.
In 1946, Baba Amte married Sadhana Guleshastri. She was also a believer of humanity and always supported Baba Amte in his social work. She was popularly known as Sadhnatai. 'Tai' in Marathi language means "elder sister". The couple had two sons, Prakash and Vikas, both of whom were doctors and followed in their father’s footsteps of keeping up with his altruistic vision of helping the poor.
Influence of Gandhi
Baba Amte is hailed as the last of the true followers of Gandhi’s philosophy. He not only internalised the philosophies directed by the Mahatma, but also embraced the Gandhian way of life. He inherited the Mahatma’s spirit of standing up for injustice in society and serving the downtrodden classes. Like Gandhi, Baba Amte was a trained lawyer who initially sought a career in law. Later, just like Gandhi, he was moved by the plight of the poor and ignored people of his country and dedicated his life to their betterment. In search of his true calling, Baba Amte relinquished his ceremonial dress and started working with the rag-pickers and sweepers for some time in Chandrapura district. When Gandhi came to know about Amte’s fearless protests against some Englishmen disrespecting women, he gave Amte the title ‘Abhay Sadhak’. He later focussed his attention towards serving patients suffering with leprosy and spent most of his life aiming to provide better treatment facilities as well as social awareness towards the disease.
Social Activism
Baba Amte, often referred to as the last follower of Mahatma Gandhi, lived and worked following his mentor’s life. He led a Spartan life, wearing only Khadi clothes woven in his rehabilitation centre at Anandwan, ate the fruit and vegetables grown in the farms there, and worked towards Gandhi’s vision of India, alleviating the sufferings of thousands.
Working for Leprosy Patients
Baba Amte was moved by the plight and social injustice that leprosy patients faced in Indian society. Suffering from a dreadful disease, they were discriminated against and driven out of the society, which often lead to death due to lack of treatment. Baba Amte set out to work against this belief and create awareness for the disease to banish misconceptions. After pursuing a leprosy orientation course at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Baba Amte started out on his mission along with his wife, two sons and 6 leprosy patients. He set up 11 weekly clinics and founded 3 ashrams for the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients and people disabled due to the disease. He worked tirelessly to relive patients from pain, with himself attending to them in the clinics. To bust several myths and misconceptions about leprosy being highly contagious he injected himself with the bacilli from a patient. He vociferously spoke against marginalisation of the patients and their treatment as social outcasts. In 1949, he started working towards building the Anandwan, an ashram dedicated towards helping leprosy patients. From under a tree in 1949, to a 250 acre campus in 1951, the Anandwan ashram now houses two hospitals, a university, an orphanage and even a school for the blind.
Today Anandwan has evolved into something rather special. It not only includes patients suffering from leprosy, or disabled thereof, it supports people with other physical disabilities as well as several environmental refugees. Being the largest community of differently-abled people in the world, Anandwan strives to instill a sense of dignity and pride among its inhabitants by building up their self-worth. As a community, the inhabitants work towards maintaining a self-sustainable system, by cultivation and crafts providing the necessary economical backbone.
Lok Biradri Prakalp
In 1973, the Lok Biradri Prakalp, or the Brotherhood of People project was initiated by Baba Amte to induce development among the Madia Gond tribe of Bhamragad taluk in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, India. The project involved building of a hospital for the indigenous tribes in the area to provide them with basic healthcare. They also built a school with hostel facility for children to provide education and a centre, teaching livelihood skills and training to the adults. There is also a special project, the animal orphanage, which takes in and cares for the young animals orphaned by the hunting activities of the local tribes. It has been named as Amte’s Animal Park.
Role of Baba Amte in Indian Independence Movement
Baba Amte is praise vociferously as the last of the true followers of Gandhi’s philosophy. He joined the Indian Freedom Movement under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and participated in almost all major movements led by Mahatma Gandhi. He started acting as a defence lawyer for leaders involved with the Indian freedom movement whom the British authorities had imprisoned in 1942 during the Quit India movement.
Contribution of Baba Amte as a Social Activism
He often referred to as the last follower of Mahatma Gandhi because he worked towards Gandhi’s vision of India, alleviating the sufferings of thousands. He founded the Anandwan Ashram in 1949 as a rehabilitation centre for leprosy patients where they learn how to be self-sufficient through hard work. Being Gandhian follower, he wears only Khadi clothes woven in his rehabilitation centre at Anandwan ate the fruit and vegetables grown in his ashram farms.
He was great admirer of national unity. Hence he organised Bharat Jodo Abhiyan or the Knit India March to re-infuse the spirit of national integration at a time of growing cynicism and communal strife.
In 1990, Amte left Anandwan for a while to live along the Narmada River and join Medha Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan ("Save Narmada") movement, which fought against both unjust displacement of local inhabitants and damage to the environment due to the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada River.
Baba Amte on Youth
Baba wanted the youth to enlighten themselves with knowledge so that they can understand the meaning and importance of India's freedom. Baba had once said, "We must try to understand this power contained in the roots of trees. Only when you will understand this phenomenon, will you find the courage to embrace adventure and perform what needs to be done. Those who want to bring about creative revolution must fully understand this root phenomenon."
Legacy
His humanitarian projects have been carried forward by his sons, Dr. Vikash Amte and Dr. Prakash Amte. Dr. Vikas is the chief functionary at Anandwan while Dr. Prakash is associated with the proceedings of the Lok Biradri projects in Hemalkasa.
Awards & Achievements of Baba Amte
1. Padma Shri, 1971
2. Ramon Magsaysay Award, 1985
Citation: "In electing MURLIDHAR DEVIDAS AMTE to receive the 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service, the Board of Trustees recognizes his work-oriented rehabilitation of Indian leprosy patients and other handicapped outcasts."
3. Padma Vibhushan, 1986
4. United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, 1988
5. Gandhi Peace Prize, 1999
6. Rashtriya Bhushan, 1978: FIE Foundation Ichalkaranji (INDIA)
7. Jamnalal Bajaj Award, 1979 for Constructive Work
8. N.D. Diwan Award, 1980: National Society for Equal Opportunities for the 'Handicapped' (NASEOH), Bombay
9. Ramshastri Award, 1983: Ramshastri Prabhune Foundation, Maharashtra, India
10. Indira Gandhi Memorial Award, 1985: Government of Madhya Pradesh for outstanding social service
11. Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award, 1986: Delhi
12. Fr. Maschio Platinum Jubilee Award, 1987: Bombay
13. G.D. Birla International Award, 1988: For outstanding contribution to humanism
14. Templeton Prize, 1990 [Baba Amte and Charles Birch (Emeritus professor of University of Sydney) were jointly awarded the prize in 1990]
15. Mahadeo Balwant Natu Puraskar, 1991, Pune, Maharashtra
16. Adivasi Sewak Award, 1991, Government of Maharashtra
17. Kusumagraj Puraskar, 1991
18. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Dalit Mitra Award, 1992, Government of Maharashtra
19. Shri Nemichand Shrishrimal Award, 1994
20. Fr. Tong Memorial Award, 1995, Voluntary Health Association of India
21. Kushta Mitra Puraskar, 1995: Vidarbha Maharogi Sewa Mandal, Amravati, Maharashtra
22. Bhai Kanhaiya Award, 1997: Sri Guru Harkrishan Education Trust, Bhatinda, Punjab
23. Manav Sewa Award, 1997: Young Men's Gandhian Association, Rajkot, Gujarat
24. Sarthi Award, 1997, Nagpur, Maharashtra
25. Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust Award, 1997, Nagpur, Maharashtra
26. Gruhini Sakhi Sachiv Puraskar, 1997, Gadima Pratishthan, Maharashtra
27. Kumar Gandharva Puraskar, 1998
28. Apang Mitra Puraskar, 1998, Helpers of the Handicapped, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
29. Bhagwan Mahaveer Award, 1998, Chennai
30. Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award, 1998, Mumbai
31. Justice K. S. Hegde Foundation Award, 1998, Karnataka
32. Baya Karve Award, 1998, Pune, Maharashtra
33. Savitribai Phule Award, 1998, Government of Maharashtra
34. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Award, 1988: FICCI, for outstanding achievements in training and placement of disabled persons
35. Satpaul Mittal Award, 1998, Nehru Sidhant Kendra Trust, Ludhiana, Punjab
36. Adivasi Sevak Puraskar, 1998, Government of Maharashtra Gandhi Peace Prize, 1999
37. Dr. Ambedkar International Award for Social Change, 1999
38. Maharashtra Bhushan Award, 2004, Government of Maharashtra
39. Bharathvasa award, 2008
