Baba Amte, the renowned social worker took his last breath on Saturday at his Anandvan Ashram in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.
The 94 year world crusader who fought against leprosy, poverty, succumbed to the blood cancer at 4.15 am. He is survived by his wife Sadhana, sons Vikash and Prakash.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in his condolences to the sad demise of Baba Amte said “It is with a deep sense of grief and loss that I heard about the demise of Baba Amte.”
Hailing him as true Gandhian he said, “A true Gandhian who worked hard to uphold Gandhian values in their true spirit, Baba Amte became a legend in his own lifetime. His life long struggle to unite people across the length and breadth of the country on national and Gandhian lines and to eliminate all forms of discrimination and bias truly make him a saint of our times. The footprints of Baba Amte will be permanently embedded in the sands of time and will be a guiding beacon for all those working for the common good.”
“In this hour of sorrow, my heart reaches out to all those associated with Baba Amte and his millions of admirers across the nation. I pay homage to a truly great son of India and pray that his departed soul rests in peace.” He added.
Born to a family of jagirdars but poverty shook his inner core and he decided to dedicate himself for the cause of social justice. He selflessly devoted his life to the care of leprosy patients and it is said that he even allowed his body to grow leprosy germs.
His effort to drive out leprosy is respected across the world through his Community Development Project at Anandvan. He campaigned for rehabilitation of thousands affected by Narmada Dam construction.
His Bharat Jodo Andolan (Unite India Movements) from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 1985 and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh in 1988, with the mission of establishing peace and raising environmental consciousness.
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