Times of India

Nagpur, Feb 9: Noted social activist and Magsaysay award winner Murlidhar Devidas Amte alias Baba Amte died at his 'Anandvan' ashram in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra on Saturday. He was 94.

Baba Amte passed away at 4:15 am, his son Dr Vikas said.

One of the country's most respected social leaders, Amte devoted his life to the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

He is survived by two sons.

About Baba Amte: (source - Wikipedia)

Murlidhar Devidas Amte (born December 26, 1914), or Baba Amte, as he is fondly known, was born in Hinganghat located in Wardha District of Maharashtra state of India. He was from a wealthy family of jagirdars. Trained in law, Baba Amte started a lucrative practice at Warora but, moved by the poverty he saw around him, he decided to dedicate himself to social justice.

One of India's most revered social and moral leaders, Baba Amte has devoted his life to the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, even allowing his body to be used for experiments to grow leprosy germs. His community development project at Anandwan (Forest of Bliss) near Nagpur in Maharashtra, India, is recognised and respected around the world and has done much to dispel prejudice against leprosy victims.

Baba Amte also launched the Bharat Jodo (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.

In 1990, Baba Amte left Anandwan to live along the Narmada river to fight against social injustice to local inhabitants. Although he continues to support the movement for rehabilitation of tribals affected by the construction of large dams on the Narmada, he has recently returned to Anandwan for health reasons.