Baba Amte, (Muralidhar Devdas Amte) is one of India’s greatest humanitarians and social workers. He was born in 1914, in
Maharashtra and was influenced into social work, by
Rabindranath Tagore and
Mahatma Gandhi after his graduation. Baba Amte is the recipient of many national and international awards including the United Nations Human Rights Award, and the Magsasey Award. He is the recipient of the Padmavibhushan from the Indian Government.
Baba Amte has served leprosy patients and the physically handicapped, since 1949, for which he has got the Damien-Dutton Award, U S A 1983 (highest international award in the field of leprosy).
Baba Amte has started many social service organizations including the Maharogi Seva Samiti, and 'Anandawan' an organization based in Nagpur, Maharashtra, which gives a self sustained decent living to more than 3000 leprosy patients. Communities of leprosy affected people are able to live an almost normal life, due to Baba Amte’s efforts. Baba Amte’s entire family, including his two sons and their wives who are all doctors, now run Anandwan.
Baba Amte is a source of inspiration to many people around the world. Many books and films have been made on Baba Amte.
