PRAKASH AMTE

I am indeed overwhelmed to stand here to receive this prestigious award in the name of Ramon Magsaysay, a visionary and an outstanding leader, yet a man of the people, who believed that every living being has the right to live in liberty and happiness. It is a great privilege to receive this award at a moment when identity, whether of an individual or of a community, seems to have been threatened by globalisation, unequal distribution of wealth and natural resources no less than by growing consumerism of the haves and destitution and deprivation of the have-nots.

Lok Biradari Prakalp is a sincere effort to bridge the gap between these two worlds, that of the beneficiaries of modern science and technology and of those who live on the fringes without basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. For the Madia Gond, the tribal community living in the wilderness of Bhamragad's dense forests, there was no world beyond the forest.

It was in the early seventies when my father, the late Baba Amte, took us to this virgin forest for a picnic. We were unaware that in his frolic was hidden a dream of extending a hand of help to those who were plagued by starvation, disease, superstition and death. Cultivation of land was forbidden here, and there was very little to eat, fit for a civilized man. Death sought them in many forms. They were helpless before the wild animals. They famished and died much before their time. Education was an otherworldly thing for them, since there was no contact with the civilized world beyond the forest. They lived in conditions no better than that of the savage man. The beauty of the surroundings was at once bewitching and bewildering, and the realities ugly enough to fracture the conscience. Here lay the challenge and I decided to accept it. Baba's vision became my venture. My tryst with the tribal was signed during this trip. That was a turning point in my life.

Giving up my post-graduation in surgery halfway I set out to give my best to the Madia Gonds. Accompanied by my wife Dr. Mandakini, I committed myself to work not for them but to fulfil my inner urge. Like a perfect consort, she stood by my side through thick and thin.

Thirty-four years have elapsed since the inception of this project. It has grown in many directions.

It can be described as a journey from darkness to light (we lived without electricity for twenty years). We have been able to provide not only medical aid but education, and agriculture while inculcating a scientific attitude in them. This called for many hands which voluntarily joined us. Leaving behind their lucrative careers and urban comforts our colleagues rooted themselves here and chose to live in the most adverse conditions and toiled hard to make Lok Biradari what it is today. I think passion and compassion are the two important things required in any social venture. If you allow yourself to be led by them, you will reap a rich harvest. I honestly feel that a true leader is one who teaches the followers to lead themselves.

I accept this award with humility on behalf of all our fellow workers. We also declare that the Award money will be utilized for projects of the institution.

Thank you.

MANDAKINI AMTE

The Honorable Chief Justice, Chairman and Trustees of Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, distinguished guests, fellow awardees, my dear brothers and sisters.

I feel honoured to be here to receive the Magsaysay Award, the highest of its kind in Asia. I come here as the representative of those amongst whom we chose to live and work. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for their recognition of our humble efforts to help Central India's tribals live a life of dignity and self-reliance. We accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers of Lok Biradari Prakalp, without whose devotion and dedication to this cause we would not have been able to materialise the dream of my father-in-law, the late Baba Amte.

When we set out to step into the interiors of Bhamragad's dense forest, besides having studied medicine, our only opening balance was the inner urge to help the derelict of this region by educating them and running a healthcare centre for them. For a woman like me who hails from a middle class family and perfectly urbanised, it was a real challenge to come to roost in the jungle, where all the wild creatures had their claim first and next to them were the hostile natives. We looked like aliens to them who were half-clad and who lived on the natural forest produce. Far too distressing was their distrust and our inability to communicate with them. Moreover, they were uncivilized, uncared for and victims of extremes of weather, snake and bear-bites, cerebral malaria and many other disorders.

We realised that the way to their hearts lay through the language. We picked up their tongue and communication became easier. We set up the dispensary, but to persuade them to go for modern medicine was not easy. . . In the course of time we won them over. They throng the hospital now. They come walking, sometimes fifty kilometers, at any hour of the day. There were other things to do too, to build up confidence. As there was scarcity of basic necessities, we used to buy various articles from nearby cities and provide these to them on a no-loss, no-profit basis.

We guessed that without education it was impossible to put them on their own. Soon a residential school was set up to impart formal education to the young and create awareness about their rights. Over a period of time, a number of the tribal children have become doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Many donors came forward with their generous help which enabled us to serve the tribe better. We are grateful to all these benefactors.

Though it is our pleasure and pride to see the tribal youth being aware of their capacities and rights today, to see them standing up for their brethren, we are far from being complacent and certainly wish to open many more doors for them in future. I must say this Award will help reinvigorate our faith in our work. We accept it with abiding faith in the essential goodness of the people on the other side… Thank you once again.