Noted
social reformer Baba Amte passes away
Chandrapur
(Maharashtra), Feb 09: Renowned social reformer Murlidhar
Devidas Amte alias Baba Amte passed away at his `Anandwan`
ashram here on Saturday. He was 94. Despite being surrounded
by wealth, he willingly sacrificed his life to the cause of
the hapless lepers. He was a highly learned man who honoured
his own education by practically matching its expectations.
He
has left behind two sons.
Baba
Amte was born in Hinganghat in Wardha District on December
26, 1914. He was from a wealthy family of jagirdars. Trained
in law, Baba Amte started a lucrative practice at Warora but
he was so shaken by the poverty he saw around him that he
decided to dedicate himself to social justice despite certain
hurdles.
His
community development project at ‘Anandwan’ (Forest of Bliss)
is recognised around the world and has done much to dispel
prejudice against leprosy victims.
He
also launched the ‘Bharat Jodo’ movements from Kanyakumari
to Kashmir in 1985 and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh in 1988,
with the mission of establishing peace and raising environmental
consciousness. He was also a vocal advocate of the Narmada
Bachao Andolan along with social activist Medha Patkar.
Baba
was honoured by a string of awards during his lifetime including
the famous Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Gandhi Peace Prize.
Baba Amte had devoted his life to the care and rehabilitation
of leprosy patients.
He
had a habit of collecting quotations in his diary. One of
them was, "When you give roses to others, the perfume
is bound to linger on your hands!" His life proved to
be that rose whose fragrance lingers on even after his death.
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