Murlidhar Devidas Amte (Baba Amte) Biography

Murlidhar Devidas Amte (Baba Amte) Biography

మురళీధర్ దేవిదాస్ ఆమ్టే (బాబా ఆమ్టే) జీవిత చరిత్ర

Murlidhar Devidas Amte, commonly known as Baba Amte, (26 December 1914 – 9 February 2008) was an Indian social worker and social activist known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of people suffering from leprosy.

He and his wife, Sadhna Amte started an organization for leprosy patients at Anandwan in 1950. This pioneering work was started as an Aarogya.He has received numerous awards and prizes including the Padma Vibhushan, the Dr. Ambedkar International Award, the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Templeton Prize and the Jamnalal Bajaj Award.

Early life

Baba Amte was born to Mr. Devidas Amte and Mrs. Laxmibai Amte in the city of Hinganghatin Wardha District of Maharashtra on 26 December 1914 into a wealthy family. His father was a British government officer working for the district administration and revenue collection departments.Murlidhar had acquired his nickname Baba in his childhood.

Trained in law, he developed a successful legal practice in Wardha. He soon became involved in the Indian struggle for freedom from the British Raj and started working as a defense lawyer in 1942 for leaders involved with the Indian freedom movement whom the British authorities had imprisoned during the Quit India movement.He spent some time at Sevagram ashram started by Mahatma Gandhi and became a follower of Gandhism for the rest of his life.When Gandhi got to know that Dr. Amte had saved a girl from the lewd taunts of British soldiers, Gandhi gave him the name – Abhay Sadhak (Fearless Seeker of Truth).

Family

Amte married Indu Ghuleshastri (later called Sadhanatai Amte).She participated in her husband's social work with equal dedication. Their two sons, Vikas Amte and Prakash Amte, and daughters-in-law, Mandakini and Bharati, are doctors.Their two sons, Dr. Digant and Aniket also dedicated their lives to the same causes.

Anandwan

In those days, people with leprosy suffered a social stigma and the society disowned these people.Amte founded three ashrams for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, disabled people and people from marginalised sections of the society in Maharashtra. On 15 August 1949, he started a hospital in Anandvan under a tree. In 1973, Amte founded the Lok Biradari Prakalp to work for the Madia Gond tribal people of Gadchiroli District.Amte devoted his life to many other social causes.Amte's elder son Vikas and his wife Bharati run the hospital at Anandwan and co-ordinate operations with satellite projects.Anandwan has a university, an orphanage, and schools for the blind and the deaf. The Anandwan ashram is self-sufficient and has over 5,000 residents and is recognised around the world. Amte later founded "Somnath" and "Ashokwan" ashrams for people suffering from leprosy.

Gandhism

Amte followed Gandhi's way of life and led a spartan life. He wore khadi clothes made from the looms at Anandwan. He believed in Gandhi's concept of a self-sufficient village industry that empowers seemingly helpless people, and successfully brought his ideas into practice at Anandwan. Using non-violent means, he played an important role in the struggle for the independence of India.Amte also used Gandhi's principles to fight against corruption, mismanagement, and poor, shortsighted planning in the government. However, unlike Gandhi, Amte was an atheist

Death

Baba died at Anandwan in his ashram at 4.15 am on February 9, 2008. Baba Amte, aged 94, has been suffering from vertebral problems for a long time. For some time he suffered from blood cancer. However, he has worked on the ideals of his beliefs till the last resort, and his ambition has been the goal. He was cremated by the Maharashtra government on February 10, His ultimate desire was to be cremated rather than burning the physical body.

Quotes

"I don't want to be a great leader; I want to be a man who goes around with a little oilcan and when he sees a breakdown, offers his help. To me, the man who does that is greater than any holy man in saffron-coloured robes. The mechanic with the oilcan: that is my ideal in life."(Self-description given to British journalist Graham Turner)

"I took up leprosy work not to help anyone, but to overcome that fear in my life. That it worked out good for others was a by-product. But the fact is I did it to overcome fear."