Prakash Amte: What it takes to dine with a lion
Posted on 15/12/11What does it take to be a doctor practicing in the remote tribal regions without easy access to proper medicine and technology? What does it take to run an orphanage for rescued animals which may have otherwise ended up as dinner for the local population? What does it take for a regular surgeon to perform cataract operation with just a book as a reference? And least of all, what does it take to be Baba Amte’s son? In this Q&A with INK Curator Lakshmi Pratury, Magsaysay awardee Prakash Amte answers these questions and more.
About the Speaker
Prakash Amte
Social activist
Magsaysay Awardee Prakash Amte runs Lok Biradari Prakalp to provide community services to tribal people in rural Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. The project has grown into a hospital, residential school and an orphanage for injured wild animals.
Prakash Amte is a M.B.B.S. graduate by profession but the spectrum of activities he carries out ranges from performing complex surgeries, fractures, and simple eye surgeries. He has first hand experience in hand rearing of wild-life animals from leoprads to huge bears,even the deadliest snakes have been befriended by him. He heads an rare informal court where the adivasis from far away come out of love and trust that justice will be granted. The most unusual being repairing watches and radios of the adivasis which he still continues to do.
PERSONAL JOURNEY
Way back in 1970 Lt. Baba urged his sons to come for a picnic in dandakaranya forest. Prakash accompanied his visionary father Lt. Baba Amte into the dense forests of bhamragad. Moved by the extreme poverty, exploitation, illiteracy and malnuitrition Baba decided to start a project for tribal development. At that time Prakash was young and freshly graduated; seeing his aged father's enthusiasm and dedication, he promised Baba to join him in his mission. This trip was a turning point in Prakash's life. Shortly after, he was joined by his young and able physician wife Mandakini.
WORKS
Prakashwata (Marathi Autobiography)
WEBSITE
lokbiradariprakalp.org
A highlight from a stunning session at INK - Dr. Amte is a personal hero, a true, compassionate healer, and a very humble man.
Dr.Prakash Amte's in the tribal region is commendable.I was fortunate enough to meet Baba Amte in person and I found the same shades of Baba Amte in his son Prakash Amte.Hats off to his pioneering work!
Kudos to you .Words fail to express your love and dedication for your chosen path and apropos it shuns publicity. You have enriched our lives Prakash
This is just amazing, I am so proud that I have been lucky to get the opportunity to work with the legend like Late. Resp. Baba, Late Sadhanatai, Dr. Vikas and family and Dr. Prakash for 4 years. It is so touching to see Prakashdada being interviewed and enriching people's lives!! I am sure millions of people will get inspired with such live energy like Prakashdada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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