Today, I feel grateful and lucky to have been inspired
again. I met Dr Prakash Amte and his wife Mandakini Amte. What an experience!!
Some facts I knew before I met him ---
His father Baba Amte had started Anandwan for the
rehabilitation of leprosy patients. Dr Prakash Amte chose his own path and
settled in Hemalkasa near Ghadchiroli to open a hospital & school for the Maldi
tribals there (about 4 lakh in number). Hemalkasa is a 6 hour drive from Nagpur
airport. He has won the Padma Shri, several other awards and the King of Monaco
even has a stamp in his honour (which by the way made it to a small blurb in
the local Nagpur newspaper, why do our heroes get so little national coverage??)
Well all this is the objective, factual data google provides
you
When you meet him, what you experience is a man with an incredible
sense of humour, roaring laughter and the most sincerely told stories from the
heart.
Some stories that inspired me
·
He has what he calls an “animal orphanage” full
of leopards, bears, crocodiles, poisonous snakes and deers. There are several
videos and pictures of him petting and feeding some of these wild animals. He
told us how his 10 month old grandson had a snake around his neck and that’s their
idea of a perfect childhood picture! When a malicious forest officer wanted to
take way the animals and land, Dr Amte said he would return his Padma Shri,
that’s how passionately he loves his animals !!
·
Inspite of having all the relevant documents, he
was rejected a visa after a 1 minute interview by the American Embassy (this
was after a Padmashri, Monaca stamp and a prior US visit). How insulting! They
felt with an income of 3000 a month, he didn’t qualify !! A day later he got an apology and a 10 year
visa but the incident speaks volumes …..
·
Talk about women empowerment – 50% of his 650
students are girls, they have family planning in Hemalkasa but 99% involve
vasectomy, he adopted a Maldi tribal girl himself, he proudly tells me how 15
days back he had his first grand daughter after 5 grandsons, he is very happy
to talk about the rules in the adivasi community where the boy is supposed to
give dowry and the girl post marriage is free to walk away and marry someone
else if she is unhappy and how this is widely accepted.
·
What amazes me is that his 2 sons and daughters
in law are also staying in Hemalkasa and working with the tribals.– what values
do you impart such that your children believe
in your vision and are willing to live a life full of hardhsips, small means.
Talk about 3 generations of commitment and passion for selfless giving – Baba
Amte, Prakash Amte and now their sons ….
Mrs Amte is equally amazing, she loves to talk and share
stories. The couple eats very simple food in a canteen with 100 of their staff
members. They did not touch the fried
food or paneer we offered them. Every single morning and evening the couple
walk for an hour. After 44 years of marriage, they still speak sweetly about
the time they fell in love while studying medicine and how Mrs Amte gave up all
luxuries to stay in a tribal area with no electricity and phone ! Then with a
glint in his eye Dr Amte speaks how he must be given some credit for that, how
wonderful he must have been that she didn’t leave !! She smiles and doesn’t
deny it, which says it all
For many this amazing couple is a symbol of sacrifice, a
symbol of selflessness , a symbol of giving but for me they are also a symbol
of true love !!
