THE ANGEL IS ONE WITH HEAVEN
Baba Amte, a man of our century who dedicated his life of almost a century to the society is no more amongst us. His departure brings pain but his life has been an inspiration to many. Since we were kids we have been hearing stories about a saint who can not stand on his feet due to a physical ailment but is serving the ailing society.
Those with physical sickness were his concern but so was the mentally deteriorated society that treated them as untouchables. It was the time when leprosy was a taboo and the ones suffering with the disorder were treated as sinners. Those around them, even their own family would not touch or keep them in the house. When the disease prone had no hope left, a light from heaven in form of Baba Amte met them.
Baba Amte borm on December 26. 1914 as Murlidhar Devidas Amte was a respected Indian social activist. He was the founder of several ashrams and communities for the service of leprosy patients and other marginalized people that were shunned by society. Anandwan (literally, "Forest of Joy"), located in the remote and economically less privileged district of Chandrapur Maharashtra is the most well known amongst them and was his home. Baba's thoughts are well conveyed from the words he used describe himself to British journalist Graham Turner “I don't want to be a great leader, I want to be a man who goes around with a little oil can and when he sees a breakdown offers his help. To me, the man who does that is greater than any holy man in saffron-colored robes. The mechanic with the oilcan, that is my ideal in life.”
In 1946, Baba got married to Sadhana Guleshastri, who was later referred to by community members Tai, Baba and Sadhanatai have two sons, Vikas and Prakash, both of whom are doctors. Both have dedicated their lives to social work and causes similar to those of their parents. It is rare to find an example where the kids also follow in the foot steps of their selfless parents. Having facilities to enjoy a rich life and still sacrificing it needs guts more strong than those of saints. Baba Amte dedicated his life to various other social causes, notably wildlife preservation and his involvement in Narmada Bachao Andolan. His achievements have this addition of rearing his children in a manner that they not only adored their parents’ instincts but even followed them.
Trained in law, Baba Amte had a lucrative practice at Wardha. It was then that Baba got involved in Indian freedom struggle and started acting as a defence lawyer for leaders imprisoned in the 1942 Quit India movement. Baba was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, with whom he spent sometime in Sewagram Ashram. Baba was follower of Gandhisim for his entire life. He practiced various aspects of Gandhism including weaving and wearing khadi, dedicating his life to the cause of upliftment of the downtrodden classes of society.
His life was dedicated to the socially neglected. He was their guardian angel, a father who gave them a family of brothers and sisters who shared a bond of suffering and understanding.
Baba Amte had not been keeping well for several years in his later life. In 2007, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Baba Amte passed away in Anandwan on February 9th, 2008 at 4.15 am. He was 93.
His chronological age however is a petite measure of his real worth. The lives of the countless mortals that he made worth living is an addition to the memories that the world will hold of their loving Baba. Such angels are rearely sent to earth- and when they are, they make it a better place to live in. If there is any heaven then it is here, where such cherubs come and spread light and warmth.
The demise of his body further strengthens the belief that there is one more eternal home out there where such heavenly souls go. The Baba made this earth paradise and now this God’s messenger has become one with the supreme being.
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