Dr. Prakash Amte

Living upto his name, Dr. Prakash Amte has illuminated light in the life of tribal community named ‘Madia gond’ based in the remote area of ‘Hemalkasa’ in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.

His wife Dr. Mandakini Amte partnered him on this very difficult path; they choose as their life mission. Under the able guidance of Legend Baba Amte in 1973, this doctor couple along with other companions started journey to establish health care centre named ‘Lokbiradari prakalp’ in extremely adverse conditions to provide medical aid to tribals based in the remote area of Hemalkasa; which was without any roads, electricity & means of connectivity for the first 17 years. This social initiative is now further extended as ashram shala – a residential school & animal arc – an orphanage for injured wild animals.

Background: On 26^th Dec’1948, he was born as 2^nd son to socialist Baba & Sadhanatai Amte (who established Anandwan – centre for rehabilitation and empowerment of leprosy patients at Warora in Chandrapur district). Dr. Prakash along with brother Dr. Vikas grown up at ‘Anandwan’ seeing noble work of their father inheriting strong social values.

Education: Completed MBBS from Government medical college, Nagpur.

Marriage & spouse: On 24^th Dec’1972, he got married to Dr. Mandakini Deshpande, who is 2 year older to him. Although both completed their graduation from the same college, they met each other during post graduation & decided to get married. The couple is blessed with 2 children named Digant & Aniket, who completed their schooling in the ashram shala itself.

Career goal: Dr. Prakash & Mandakini Amte decided to devote their life for the development of tribal community under the social initiative named ‘Lokbiradari Prakalp’ at the barren land in the deep forest of Hemalkasa donated by government. That time, this place was very risky even to visit due to the threat of wild animals. In the beginning, communicating with Madia gond community was a big challenge, as their spoken language was unknown. They were not even approachable & very much reluctant to respond to medical ways of cure due to their age old practices of spiritual ailing methods.

In spite of all these adversities, they started their life mission from scratch & continued the efforts tirelessly for more than 3 decades & now their next generation is already into action for the 4^th decade to take ahead the mission.

While working at Hemalkasa, he got the news of his first child being born as son almost after a month, due to lack of connectivity during monsoon season.

Laural: He is awarded with ‘Padmashri’ in 2002. This couple is jointly awarded with prestigious ‘Magsaysay award’ in 2008 for community leadership. Baba Amte was also conferred with ‘Magsaysay award’ in 1985. In the history of this award, Amte’s are the only father-son duo who got this prestigious award.

In today’s highly competitive, modern & fast paced life, this couple shows a different direction altogether to be happy in life, while being away from so-called materialistic happiness; for which almost everybody is literally running in the rat race of money making.

Amte family is like a lighthouse for aspiring youngsters; who seriously want to contribute towards under privileged section of the society & eventually humanity.

Source: ‘Prakashwata’ – biography of Dr. Prakash Amte.