M OST people travel from darkness to light, but some unfortunate ones are stuck in darkness because they are unable to come out on their own. To bring them to light of empowerment, someone has to dare to travel from light to darkness. Seventy-five years ago, a giant of a man did precisely that. Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly remembered today as Baba Amte, founded Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), along with his soulmate Sadhanatai (Indu) and six leprosy patients near Warora in Chandrapur district. The not-for-profit NGO was founded on August 19, 1949. What a fantastic journey it has been for MSS! In these 75 years, it has not only touched millions of lives but has also ignited the spirit of selfless service among countless many. More than that, it has continuously taken up causes that have enriched humanity. MSS has been relentlessly working towards the betterment of stigmatised and marginalised people viz. those afflicted with leprosy, visually impaired, orthopaedically challenged, hearing and speech impaired, socially and economically backward rural and tribal populace. From activism to advocacy of ‘Chancity’ (chance, not just charity) for the deprived, MSS has matured to take the next leap in service of humanity. Today, MSS has three prominent project locations namely Anandwan, near Warora, Somnath Prakalp, located in Chandrapur district, and Lok Biradari Prakalp, Hemalkasa in Gadchiroli district.

 

The integrated work of the MSS has touched the lives of over three million disadvantaged people. A blend of medical treatment, compassion, empowerment, and sustained ‘psycho-socio-economic restoration’ is the speciality of the integrated approach of the social work model of the MSS. Another salient feature of the work is that the Amte family has been passing on the baton of social work from one generation to another. So, the work started by ‘Padma Vibhushan’ Baba Amte was taken further by his sons Dr Prakash and Dr Vikas. Dr Prakash is ably supported by his wife Dr Mandakini, and Dr Vikas by his wife Dr Bharati. Now, the next generation is carrying forward the noble legacy of the humanitarian mission. Kaustubh, Dr Digant, Aniket are adding newer dimensions to MSS’ work through existing projects. The journey of 75 years has been a fulfilling one but not an easy one. Born in an affluent family on December 26, 1914 in Hinganghat, Wardha, Murlidhar Amte denounced everything to venture out of light and embark on an adventurous mission of bringing the disadvantaged out of darkness.

 

 

In the process, he became ‘Baba’ (father) to many who had lost hope of life. He evolved as a leader par excellence, champion of humanitarianism, strong advocate of dignity of labour and self-reliance, risk-taker, and a world renowned figure who made friends beyond the geographical borders. As MSS puts it in one of its publications, “Baba didn’t believe in incarnation because he lived a series of lives in one life.” In 1962, Anandwan scripted a new chapter when Baba Amte’s innovative idea of ‘commune’ took the shape of ‘Muktisadan’. When the leprosy-afflicted persons’ marriages took place in Anandwan, it became incumbent to change the residential arrangement. Hence, Baba Amte presented to Swiss Aid Abroad a unique ‘commune’ project called ‘Muktisadan’. Under this project, each semi-circular block had three houses -- one at each end of the semi-circular block faced each other and were occupied by young couples, and the middle one had a destitute old couple.

 

The idea entailed these three couples supporting each other. Swiss Aid Abroad approved of the idea and offered aid. What started with Anandwan (forest of joy) for the leprosy patients who had lost their toes or nose and hope, the work gradually expanded its scope to healthcare, education, agriculture and agro-industries, small and medium scale industrial units, renewable energy, conservation, architectural innovations. Anandwan has earned a distinction as Center for Rural Innovation and Incubation because of a wide range of activities undertaken over the years. In fact, several of the ideas generated and implemented in Anandwan have been replicated in many villages across Maharashtra such as construction of Nubian vault houses and man-made lakes among many others. As it turns a new leaf, Anandwan aspires to become a ‘Smart Village’. In MSS’ own description, the SMART (Sustainable, Measurable, Affordable, Replicable and Technologically advanced) village model is a holistic approach towards development for improved quality of life and standard of living for all our citizens. “We hope to serve as a benchmark for all villages in the future,” it adds.

 

 

 

 A s Dr Vikas Amte recalls, more than famous Indians like Annasaheb Sahasrabuddhe, Prabhakarpant Korgaonkar, noted litterateurs G N Dandekar and Yadunath Thatte, people from foreign countries frequented Anandwan to know about the ongoing work of human empowerment. “Baba thought of a unique idea of organising ‘Mitra Melava’ (get-together of friends) at Anandwan in 1961, so that the outside world got acquainted with the leprosy-afflicted people’s determination to become selfsufficient. Another intention was to make the social and cultural life in Anandwan lively, with emphasis on exchange of ideas,” says Dr Vikas Amte. The very first get-together saw stalwarts like Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj, Dr Shivajirao Patwardhan, Manohar Diwan, Dada Dharmadhikari, Kamalatai Hospet, Shankarrao Deo and others in attendance. In the star-studded event, G N Dandekar’s novel Anandvanbhuvan was released at the hands of Raosaheb Patwardhan. The entire arrangement of the guests was made in a pandal made of thatch mats. Sadhanatai, Geetabai Nemade, Sushilabai Kelkar, and Kausalyabai had prepared well for the get-together by collecting and sorting the foodgrains for around 1,500 persons a month in advance.

 

It was bound to be successful. On November 22, 1961, a revolutionary chapter was written when eight leprosy-afflicted couples got married with the ‘right to companionship’ for the first time. Gradually, it became a much-awaited event on the cultural calendar of not only Maharashtra but also the country. Several guests came from abroad too. The legendary litterateurs, music composers, singers, lyricists, artists, thinkers, political leaders, social workers, bureaucrats, students and famous personalities from all walks of life made it a point to attend the ‘Mitra Melava’. A few prominent names included Vishram Bedekar, Malatibai Bedekar, P L Deshpande, Sunitabai Deshpande, Dr Vasantrao Deshpande, Kumar Gandharva, Vinda Karandikar, Narhar Kurundkar, B B Borkar, Shriram Lagoo, Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, Principal Ram Shewalkar... All became ‘brand ambassadors’ of the humanitarianism promoted by MSS and Anandwan. The wedding of leprosy-afflicted persons also became a regular feature. And, who were the people who sang ‘Mangalashtak’ at these weddings? As Dr Vikas Amte recalls, they included P L and Sunitabai Deshpande, Dr Vasantrao Deshpande, B B Borkar, Kumar Gandharva, Kalapini Komkali! “Will you call the leprosy-afflicted persons as unfortunates or the lucky ones?” asks Dr Vikas Amte. ■ A

 

 

T he sapling of MSS was planted by Baba and Sadhanatai Amte in 1949. Before that, a young Murlidhar aspired to become a doctor but his father wanted him to become a lawyer. Coming from a rich family, Murlidhar rode horses, went hunting, and played bridge and tennis at a local club. He drove a car in style, and his car was decorated with the fur of the leopard he had shot. Suddenly, it all changed. It so happened that the well-read Murlidhar saw a man in the last stage of leprosy. He was terrified as the ailing man was nothing but a mass of human flesh with two holes in place of a nose, without traces of fingers or toes, with sores. The man was Tulshiram. The sight of the man changed Murlidhar forever. The initial feeling of dread was replaced by determination to work for those suffering from leprosy. For, he realised that loss of strength in feeling kindness and compassion for other humans was more frightening than losing one’s limbs. For, he realised that loss of confidence because of leprosy was resulting in loss of hope for life. “I don’t want to be a leader. I want to be the one who goes around with a little oil can and offers help when I see a breakdown.”

 

This quote of Baba Amte sums up what he felt and what laid the foundation for the work he started. He was so committed to the upliftment of the leprosy-afflicted persons that he once volunteered to be ‘a guinea pig’ to test a vaccine for leprosy! He offered to have himself injected with the leprosy bacilli for the purpose of medical research!! How many people can dare to do that? After spending years serving the leprosy-afflicted, Baba decided to adopt an integrated approach to empower them and make them self-reliant. So, he started roping in the persons who had lost toes to leprosy, in agriculture. When the first harvest came, the joy of the leprosy-afflicted knew no bounds. For, they had achieved something. It assured them that life could not rob them of self-confidence. Soon, small and medium scale industries, tricycle workshop, education to girls with speech and hearing impairment, marriage of leprosy-afflicted persons... The story went on to blossom into a legend. Lok Biradari Prakalp came up at Hemalkasa when there was no proper road or electricity supply or telecommunication facility available there, leave alone healthcare. Dr Prakash and Dr Mandakini transformed it into a temple of inspiration for countless many. Like Baba, Dr Prakash also is a recipient of Magsaysay Award. Youth camp at Somnath is still a craze among the youngsters.

 

Ashokvan project near Nagpur is now turning a leaf. ‘Padma Shri’ Dr Prakash Amte, along with another Magsaysay awardee Dr Bharat Vatwani, Founder Trustee of Shraddha Rehabilitation Foundation, have come together to help the psychiatrists in Nagpur succeed in their endeavour to provide better healthcare to mentally challenged destitutes. Baba indeed expanded the work into newer areas. His life was a ‘Gatiche Geet’ (song of motion). Hence, when terrorism afflicted Punjab, Baba Amte dared to take out ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ to arouse the sense of national integration among the discontent sections. He travelled across the length and breadth of the country from Kanyakumari to Jammu and was joined by several youths on bicycle in the mission. Through ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, he motivated youth to take up constructive causes to channelise their energy for positive interventions. In the later years of his life, Baba associated himself with ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and stayed at Kasravad in Madhya Pradesh for a few years.

 

Upon return from Kasravad, he vowed to stand with the persons likely to be affected due to Inchampalli and Bhopalpatnam projects. He was friends with Nobel Prize recipient Dalai Lama and several internationally renowned personalities, but stayed simple all through, wearing white half-pant and ‘bandi’. Of course, his outstanding work fetched him many honours including ‘Padma Shri’ (1971), Jamnalal Bajaj Award (1979), Magsaysay Award (1985), Welfare of the Disabled (1986), ‘Padma Vibhushan’ (1986), G D Birla International Award (1988), Gandhi Peace Prize (2000), Dr Ambedkar International Award for Social Change (1999), Damien Dutton, Templeton, Right Livelihood awards among many others. (Photo feature on page 2) ■