Baba Amte Biography 
Baba Amte was born on 26th December 1914 in the town of Hinganghat in Wardha District of Maharashtra. He was a popular Indian Social worker. His parents are Devidas and Laxmibai Amte. He belonged to wealthy Jagirdar Brahmin family. His real name was Murlidhar Devidas Amte. The name Baba was affectionately given by his parents. He studied Law and started to practice in Wardha. In 1942, he organised lawyers to rescue the imprisoned leaders of the Quit India Movement. Later he devoted his life to serve the people living below poverty line. In 1946, he married Sadhana Guleshastri. She always supported Baba Amte in his social activities.
After his marriage, he worked for the people who suffered with leprosy. He set up 11 clinics around Warora to work for those who were stuck by leprosy. Later in 1951, State government provided him 250 acres of land to start Anandvan ashram. Inside the ashram premises, a university, two hospitals, an orphanage and a school for the blind were opened. More than 5,000 peoples were benefitted out of it. Apart from lepers, he also worked for the development of tribal. In an interview he said that the condition of the tribal was worse than those inflicted with leprosy.
He was deeply attracted by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and became the constant follower of Gandhiji and practiced various aspects of Gandhism throughout his life. He also established two Bharat Jodo (Knit India) Movements. The first movements launched from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 1985 and the second from Assam to Gujarat in 1988. His main aim was to establish peace and generate environmental awareness around the nation.
Many national and international organizations praised his work unanimously. He was awarded with United Nations Human Rights Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1985, Padma Vibhusan award in 1986, the Templeton prize in 1990, the Gandhi peace Prize in 1999 and many more prizes for his social activities. The Ramon Magsaysay is considered as the Noble Prize of Asia. During his last stage, he suffered with leukemia and he died in Anandvan on 9th February 2008 at his age of 94.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 13, 2018
