Prakash Amte
Prakash Baba Amte is a medical doctor and social worker from Maharashtra,India. Son of Magsaysay awardee Baba Amte, he and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte were awarded the Magsaysay Award for 'Community Leadership' [1] in 2008 for their philanthropic work in the form of the Lok Biradari Prakalpamongst the Madia Gonds in Gadchirolidistrict of Maharashtra and the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradeshand Madhya Pradesh.
Early life
He obtained a medical degree from GMC(Government Medical College), Nagpur. His brother Vikas Amte, also a medical doctor, coordinates the activities at their father's ashram atAnandwan and manages the satellite projects and hospitals.
Lok Biradari Prakalp
After completing his M.B.B.S. when he was studying for M.S. he was granted land by Maharashtra Govt. for his project. He left his M.S. and moved toHemalkasa to start the Lok Biradari Prakalp in 1973, a project for the development of tribal people, most of whom were the Madia Gond in the forests of Gadchirolli district in 1973.[2]He lived and worked there without electricity, telephone etc. for almost twenty years and at times performed emergency surgical procedures without electricity. ( Interview to Raju Parulekar on Marathi TV channel ETV Marathi, Programme name Samvad) The project transformed into three things: a hospital,Lok Biradari Prakalp Davakhana, a residential school Lok Biradari PrakalpAshram Shala and an orphanage for injured wild animals the Amte's Animal Park. It seeks to improve health and educational services for tribals in the area. Hemalkasa lies in a tribal belt and the project provides health care to about 40000 individuals annually. The Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram School has over 600 students, residents and day scholars.[3]
A countryside that belongs to the rural folk. To the tribals; the very people for whom the Lok Biradari Prakalp was established by the revered Murlidhar Devidas Amte (Baba Amte) in December 1973. The eyes of the Baba light up at the mere mention of the project. The pride of successful service to the tribals by his son, shows in that gleam in his eyes.
Amte’s Animal Park
Amte's animal ark is a wildlife orphanage and sanctuary [4] "The Park" is an orphanage for young wild animals, whose parents have been killed by the tribal people only for food and not for fun or entertainment. Amte was successful to get these animals in exchange of food grains and clothes. However, it was not easy to do this. The Animal Park today has a wide variety of animals like leopards, sloth bears, snakes, birds, deer, owls, crocodiles, hyenas and monkeys.
Books Written by Dr Prakash Amte
Prakashvata (Pathways to Light) is an autobiography of Dr Prakash Amte. It was originally written in Marathi, it is now translated into English, Gujarati & Kannada. Dr. Prakash Amte has penned down his unbelievable experiences with his wild friends in a book titled ‘Raanmitra‘ (Jungle Friends).[5]
Awards
Dr. Prakash Amte has received many national and international awards,[6]some of the notable awards are:
- 2014 - Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice.[7]
- 2012 - Lokmanya Tilak Award [8] - Jointly with Dr Vikas Amte
- 2008 - Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership - Jointly with his wife Dr Mandakini Amte
- 2002 - Padma Shri, Government of India
- 1984 - Adivasi Sevak Award, fromGovernment of Maharashtra, India
- In 1995, State of Monaco issued a postal stamp to honour Dr. Prakash & Dr. Mandakini Amte.[9]
Magsaysay award
He was awarded the Magsaysay Award for community leadership for 2008, jointly with wife Mandakini, his citation reads as follows:
In popular culture
Biopic film, starring Nana Patekar, as Dr. Prakash Amte and Sonali Kulkarni as Dr. Mandakini Amte Dr Prakash Baba Amte : The Real Hero, released on 10th October,2014.[10]The film has been released in three languages Hindi,Marathi and English and shows the biopic of the living legend.
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