Give them chance, not charity: Dr Vikas Amte

NAGPUR: Work builds, charity destroys. Give them a chance, not charity, said Dr Vikas Amte, propagating his father legendary social activist late

Baba Amte

’s famous ideology about

leprosy

patients.


Dr Vikas Amte was felicitated at Chitnavis Centre on Sunday as part of the 2nd edition of ‘Kalawantanchya Manatil Manyavar’. A live talk in which Dr Amte was interviewed by Anjali Durugkar, helped the audience get a first-hand account of his lifelong experience of continuing his father’s dream.

“Baba’s dream has been realized in the form of Anandwan. It began as a centre for treating leprosy patients but now is home to differently abled, deaf, dumb and blind, tribals and farmers alike.

Anandwan

provides health care, rehabilitation and a chance to lead meaningful lives to these individuals who are shunned by the society,” said Amte.

“Being a leper, deaf or blind is not a choice, yet such people are alienated by the society. Workers like myself who associate with these people are also looked at differently. Anandwan is a safe jail for these people and I am the jailer. Nobody appreciates the jailer and anyway, it is the work which is great, not the worker,” Amte said.

Talking about his journey, Amte said, “Baba always used to say, ‘let them lose their limbs but not their dignity’ and this has been the guiding light for my work at Anandwan. Though not everyone understood why we were engaging with the ‘diseased’, strong supporters like PL Deshpande, Jagdish Godbole and Vijay Tendulkar visited Anandwan and that was enough motivation for me to keep going on.”

Renowned artists from the city honoured Amte. Poets, Madhup Pande and Sanjay Bhakre presented poems. Retired teacher, Bharti Sudame and Mhada assistant state manager Anant Dhule shared personal stories to commemorate the guest. Writer SP Singh said, “It is inspiring to see three generations of the family sharing the same vision even as society progresses towards individualism.” Jayant Amte, cousin of Dr Amte, shared childhood stories of the guest. Nisha Thakur from Chitnavis Centre also expressed her gratitude.

Artist Amit Gonade and cartoonist Sanjay More created a live portrait and caricature of Amte respectively while the talk was going on. Sachin Dhomne and group performed a few ghazals by Jagjit Singh at the request of the guest. Anjali Durugkar presented the guest with the portrait and caricature at the end of the talk.

Organizer, Ravindra Durugkar felicitated Amte and gave the vote of thanks.

-By Sanjali Chandak