Click to play videoNew Delhi: Born on December 24, 1914 in Hingaighat, Wardha in Gujarat, Murlidhar Devidas Amte came to be known as Baba Amte because his parents addressed him by that name.
His tryst with social activism began early and much against his family’s wishes. Hailing from a family of brahmin jagirdars (property-owners), Baba Amte would defy the rigid caste heriracrhcy and eat with servants and played with the children belonging to lower castes.
Many of his biographies also say have it that as a nine-year-old, Baba Amte was so moved by the sight of a blind beggar that he dropped a handful of silver coins in his bowl.
Baba Amte was a qualified lawyer and also dabbled with a lucrative practice in Wardha but his heart beat for the poor and the destitute in his family estate in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
Much to his family’s shock, he gave up the practice and began helping jamadaars (sweepers and manual scavengers).
He married Sadhana Guleshastri in 1946.
His community development project at Anandwan (Forest of Bliss) near Nagpur in Maharashtra, India, is recognised and respected around the world and has done much to dispel prejudice against leprosy victims.
Baba Amte also launched Bharat Jodo (Unite India) movements from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 1985 and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh in 1988, the Knit India movements, Peace Marches, Pakistan-India Peace Missions and communal harmony during the 1993 Hindu-Muslim riots in Mumbai.
In 1990, Baba Amte joined the Narmada river campaign and raised his voice against the social injustice. He recently returned to Anandwan due to failing health.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
