Baba Amte: Transforming Lives in Chandrapur Through Anandwan

thenewsdirt
May 5
5 min read

A modest man in a simple khadi kurta stood under a tree in a remote corner of Vidarbha, surrounded by a handful of people society had cast aside.

His vision was not grand speeches or fleeting charity, but a lifelong commitment to those who needed it most. This is the story of Baba Amte and his unbreakable bond with Chandrapur, a district that became the heart of his mission to restore dignity to leprosy patients.

From Privilege to Purpose

Murlidhar Devidas Amte, known as Baba Amte, was born on 26 December 1914 in Hinganghat, Wardha district, Maharashtra. Raised in a wealthy Deshastha Brahmin family, he enjoyed a childhood of privilege.

His father, Devidas Haribaji Amte, held a senior position in the British government, providing the family with land and status. Young Murlidhar hunted, played sports, and drove a Singer Sports car, but he was not blind to the inequalities around him. The stark contrast between his family’s comfort and the struggles of others planted early seeds of discontent.

After completing a B.A. and an LL.B. at Hislop College in Nagpur by 1936, Baba Amte built a thriving legal practice in Wardha.

His early years were shaped by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Vinoba Bhave, and Sane Guruji, who inspired his growing sense of social responsibility. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, he defended imprisoned freedom fighters, deepening his commitment to justice.

Yet, a pivotal moment came when he encountered Tulshiram, a leprosy patient abandoned on a road.

Overcome by fear at first, Baba Amte returned to care for him until his death. This experience led him to study leprosy at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, equipping him with the knowledge to challenge both the disease and its stigma.

Baba Amte’s decision to dedicate his life to leprosy patients was not a fleeting impulse. He adopted a Gandhian approach, wearing khadi, spinning yarn, and living simply.

To dispel myths about leprosy’s contagiousness, he even injected himself with leprosy bacilli, proving it was not easily transmitted. His early efforts laid the foundation for a mission that would find its heart in Chandrapur.

Anandwan: A Haven in Chandrapur

In 1949, Baba Amte established Anandwan, meaning “Forest of Joy,” in Warora, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. The centre began modestly on 15 August 1949, with Baba Amte, his wife Sadhana, and a small group of leprosy patients under a tree.

The land was barren, but his vision was to create a self-sufficient community where leprosy patients could live with dignity.

Anandwan grew into a thriving hub, now home to over 5,000 residents. It includes a university, an orphanage, schools for the blind and deaf, and workshops for vocational training and handicrafts.

The centre offered more than medical care. It provided leprosy patients with purpose through work, education, and community. Patients learned skills like weaving, carpentry, and farming, enabling them to contribute to the settlement’s growth.

Anandwan’s self-sufficiency became a model for rehabilitation, showing that those society deemed untouchable could build meaningful lives. Sadhana Amte was a steadfast partner in this endeavour, supporting her husband’s vision and helping manage the community’s development.

Chandrapur became the epicentre of Baba Amte’s work. Anandwan was not just a place but a symbol of hope, proving that compassion could overcome prejudice.

The centre’s success drew attention, inspiring similar efforts and demonstrating the power of collective effort.

Baba Amte lived among the residents, sharing their challenges and joys, and his presence in Chandrapur became a cornerstone of his life’s work.

Expanding the Mission

Baba Amte’s work in Chandrapur extended beyond Anandwan. In 1967, he founded Somnath, another rehabilitation village for leprosy patients, on 1,200 acres in the Tadoba buffer zone of Maharashtra.

Somnath was designed for cured patients to establish a self-sustaining community through farming and craftsmanship. Today, it supports about 550 residents and cultivates 1,000 acres, reflecting Baba Amte’s belief in empowerment through labour.

Both Anandwan and Somnath were managed under the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, Warora, a nonprofit he established in 1949.

His efforts reached beyond leprosy. In 1973, he initiated the Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, Gadchiroli district, near Chandrapur, to serve the Madia Gond tribal people. The project provided medical care, education, and a residential school, addressing the needs of an underserved community.

Baba Amte’s environmental activism also took root, notably through his involvement in the Narmada Bachao Andolan in the late 1980s. He lived on the Narmada River’s banks for seven years, published Cry, the Beloved Narmada in 1989, and joined protests against large dams that displaced tribal populations.

To promote national unity, Baba Amte launched the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, walking 3,000 miles from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir in 1985 and 1,800 miles from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat in 1988.

These marches highlighted social harmony and village self-reliance, principles he lived by. His work in Chandrapur remained the anchor, with Anandwan and Somnath serving as living examples of his philosophy.

A Family’s Commitment and Recognition

Baba Amte’s sons, Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Vikas Amte, both doctors, continued his mission. Prakash, born in Anandwan, established the Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, expanding healthcare and education for the Madia Gond.

He also founded Amte’s Animal Park, a wildlife sanctuary. Vikas focused on managing Anandwan and other initiatives under the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, ensuring their growth. Their wives, Dr. Mandakini and Dr. Bharti Amte, supported these efforts, making the Amte family a driving force in social service.

Baba Amte’s contributions earned him numerous accolades. He received the Padma Shri in 1971, the Padma Vibhushan in 1986, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1985 for community leadership.

The United Nations Human Rights Prize in 1988 recognised his work for marginalised groups, while the Templeton Prize in 1990 honoured his humanitarian efforts. In 1999, he received the Gandhi Peace Prize, and in 2004, the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.

The Damien-Dutton Award in 1983 and the Dr. Ambedkar International Award in 1999 highlighted his leprosy work and social justice advocacy. In 2006, the Tata Institute for Social Sciences conferred an honorary D.Litt.

Baba Amte passed away on 9 February 2008 at Anandwan, aged 93. His life in Chandrapur, from founding Anandwan to his final days, left an indelible mark.

The centres he built continue to thrive, managed by his family and the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, serving thousands.

A simple khadi kurta hangs in Anandwan’s museum, a reminder of the man who saw potential where others saw despair. His work in Chandrapur stands as a testament to what one person’s dedication can achieve, inspiring countless others to carry forward his vision of a more compassionate world.