Baba Amte, born Murlidhar Devidas Amte on December 26, 1914, in Hinganghat, is remembered as a person with a kind heart and a "university of humanity" for his monumental contributions to social change and selfless service in India. Despite being born into a wealthy 'Malgujar' family, his inherently rebellious and fearless nature led him to reject a comfortable life; instead, he passionately fought against poverty, inequality, and untouchability, ultimately establishing transformative projects like ‘Anandwan’, ‘Somnath’, and ‘Hemalkasa’ to help leprosy patients, the disabled, and marginalized tribal communities live with dignity.

After earning his B.A. in 1934 and his law degree in 1936, he began practicing law but refused to profit from defending criminals, choosing to represent laborers and the poor in Warora instead. He was an active participant in India's freedom struggle, even enduring imprisonment for his involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's 1942 Quit India movement. In 1946, he married Indu Ghule (affectionately known as Sadhanatai), who became his unwavering pillar of support throughout his arduous lifelong mission.

A profound turning point in his life occurred in Warora when he encountered a severely afflicted leprosy patient lying in a gutter, suffering from rotting features and maggot infestations. Deeply moved by the severe social ostracization these patients faced, he resolved to dedicate his entire life to their upliftment. Demonstrating extraordinary courage, he enrolled at the School of Tropical Medicine in Calcutta and allowed live leprosy bacilli to be injected into his own body to aid in the research for a vaccine.

In 1949, he founded the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, and with just six leprosy patients and his wife, he began transforming 50 acres of barren, rocky land provided by the government into what would become Anandwan (Forest of Joy), which was officially inaugurated by Vinoba Bhave in 1952. Believing that "charity destroys character," Baba Amte focused on empowering residents rather than offering them pity, establishing various industries like agriculture, dairy, and textiles to make the community financially independent. He also founded 'Sandhi-Niketan' to provide vocational training for the blind, deaf, and disabled, successfully turning Anandwan into a thriving, self-reliant village.

Expanding his vision, he launched the Somnath Project in 1967 to instill the value of manual labor in the youth through special labor camps, creating a dedicated force of social workers. Later, in 1973, he initiated the Lok Biradari Prakalp in the remote Hemalkasa forests of Gadchiroli to serve the deeply marginalized 'Madia Gond' tribes. Tackling immense challenges like malnutrition, disease, and superstition, his son Dr. Prakash Amte and daughter-in-law Dr. Mandakini dedicated their lives to this project, building a modern hospital, a school, and an animal orphanage.

Beyond local community building, Baba Amte was a fervent advocate for national unity, launching the 'Knit India Mission' (Bharat Jodo Abhiyan) in 1985 to combat separatism and violence. Despite suffering from severe spinal pain that forced him to travel in an ambulance, he led thousands of youth on a 5,000-kilometer cross-country bicycle rally. He followed this with a second cross-country campaign in 1987-88 and even risked his life leading a 'Peace by Peace Mission' in Punjab in 1986 to promote harmony during the Khalistan riots.

A passionate environmentalist, he actively participated in the Narmada Bachao Andolan during the 1990s, relocating to the banks of the Narmada River to fight for the rights of indigenous people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam. In addition to his activism, he was a gifted poet and thinker, authoring acclaimed poetry collections like Jwala Aani Fule and Karunecha Kalam that reflected his deep compassion, humanity, fearlessness, and scientific mindset.

For his unparalleled service to humanity, Baba Amte received numerous prestigious international and national awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1985), Padma Vibhushan (1986), UN Human Rights Award (1988), and the Gandhi Peace Prize (1999). He passed away on February 2, 2008, and according to his wishes, his body was buried rather than cremated, with a tree planted over his grave in Anandwan. Today, the torch of his selfless service is kept burning bright by his dedicated children and grandchildren, including Dr. Vikas, Dr. Prakash, Dr. Bharati, Dr. Manda, Dr. Digant, Aniket, and Dr. Sheetal.

Ultimately, Baba Amte’s extraordinary life remains the ultimate manifestation of selfless service, sacrifice, and humanity, standing as an eternal source of inspiration for generations to come.