Updated on Saturday, February 09, 2008, 00:00 IST

A pioneer of social reform, Baba Amte's life was soaked with selflessness.

Some facts:

Baba Amte was involved in freedom struggle

He spent time at Mahatma Gandhi's ashram in Sevagram

Mahatma Gandhi named it as 'Abhaysadhak' – a fearless seeker of truth

He was influenced by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Gurdev Rabindranath Tagore

'People's Brotherhood' launched in 1974 by some cured leprosy patients at Hemalkasa

Baba once allowed bacilli from a leprosy patient to be injected into him for further tests

Awards:

Damien-Dutton Award, 1983: Highest international leprosy award

Ramon Magsaysay Award, 1985

United Nations Human Rights Prize, 1988

Padma Shree, 1971

Padma Vibhushan, 1986

Welfare of the Disabled, 1986

Gandhi Peace Prize, 1999

Dr. Ambedkar International Award for Social Change

Distinctions

D.Litt., 1980: Nagpur University

Krishi Ratna, 1981: Hon. Doctorate, PKV Agricultural University, Maharashtra

D.Litt., 1985-86: Poona University

Desikottam, 1988: Hon. Doctorate, Vishwabharati, West Bengal

Baba’s mantra

'Charity Destroys, Work Builds'

Baba’s golden words

"When leprosy patients touched the soil, they transformed it into gold, but the politicians did that and made it into dirt."

"Purna swaraj can only be possible when the poorest of the poor is uplifted."

Quotes collected in his diary

"Those who don’t have pain, don’t have dreams."

"Only a full stomach can afford to be principled."

"First you have to take the spear in your heart, then you can take the crown on your head."

"Enough ants can destroy a python."
No greater proof can be needed to justify the name "Baba" Amte.