The man who was born in Affluent family Amte, his real name was Murlidhar Devidas Amte (b. 26 Dec 1914 — d. 9 Feb 2008) who was born in Hinghanghat, District Wardha, Maharashtra. However, also called as Baba Amte. He was so simple, equanimity and had never proud of his richness. He used to play with his worker’s children. The main expression in his life was to spread the happiness.
An incident left a deep thought on the poverty in Baba’s younger brain when he met a beggar in his life. It had happened during the most famous festival of India, Diwali when he was playing with his friends.
A blind beggar passed through this rich boy, he emptied all the coin in the beggar’s bowl. The beggar’s heat aggregated upon feeling the betraying weight of the coins. And, The beggar promptly understood that he was being fooled by the little man.
“I’m only a beggar young sir, don’t put stones in my bowl” The beggar said with a bitter smile.
“They are coins not stones, count them if you wish.” The Boy said to the beggar with sympathetic tone.
Young Amte understood that his country is in great misery and so need of his help. Baba’s thoughts were always running with a motive to help others. Thus, he wanted to pursue his medical degree, but the rigid behaviour of his father did not let him allow to process his thoughts. Moreover, Baba had forced to do LLB. And became a lawyer.
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Baba was that affluent person. As, he used to travel in the car which had fur of leopard. Amte’s inspiration where in the nation’s great people of his time. Few of them were Tagore, Gandhi and Sane Guruji. However, Baba also called as modern Mahatma Gandhi.
The most important and unique thing in this life is that he himself experienced the life of poor. Moreover, their feelings and struggles with life. However, Baba once worked as a waste carrier. And, the motive behind it was to gain the real experience of hardship the workers feel.
I had never been frightened of anything. Because I fought British Tommies to save the honour of an Indian lady, Gandhiji called me 'Abhay Sadhak', fearless seeker of the truth. When the sweepers of Warora challenged me to clean the gutters, I did so; but the same person quivered in fright when he saw the living corpse of Tulshiram.
Baba Amte
During those days, he encountered with a man.
Baba Amte:
"A man in the last stage of leprosy. A rotting mass of human flesh with two holes in place of a nose, without traces of fingers or toes, with worms and sores where there should have been eyes. Literally, a living corpse."
Amte was the man all known about his fearless and daring behaviours. The person with whom Baba encountered was Tulshiram (The Leprosy affected man)
However, in the year 1980, Amte awarded with Damien Dutton & Ramon Magsaysay Award. It was a prestigious award Baba had received for his extensive work and contributions. As well as, in 1990 Dalai Lama had visited Baba Amte’s Ashram (Anandwan). Baba also received Templeton Price and Right Livelihood Awards. And in the same year the message of peace and human development given to the world.
Contribution Of Baba Amte Toward the societies and Leprosy affected people
- In the city Warora (in Maharashtra) established Maharogi Sewa Samiti in the year 1950. It is called Anandwan, the headquarters of MSS, Warora.
- Started out education for blind people. And, Agriculture and Water conservation for self-sufficiency ready water storage. It has been benefiting for patients and cooking food for everyone since 1960
- In 1970, Tribal development for Gadchiroli, Maharashtra (worked for Madia-Gond tribe)
- The Knit India Movement (cycle rally through the country to promote unity caused riot torn India).
Now, Anandwan is being called India’s first SMART village.
Where there is fear, there is no love, and where there is no love, there is no God.
Baba Amte
