CHANDRAPUR, FEB 10: Although I could see a healthy mind in lepers while serving them, I saw unhealthy mentality in the people while travelling through the length and the breadth of the country, lamented noted social worker Baba Amte.He was speaking at the inaugural function of the Chandrapur engineering college's Chhotubhai Gopalbhai Patel hall recently. The programme was held under the auspices of Sardar Patel Memorial Trust.
Amte said that late Gandhiji always dreamt of development of the villages. However, the leaders did not make efforts to realise the dream of the Mahatma, he said. Pervert mentality is prevailing at every level and the politics is turning out to be a tragedy for common man, he remarked.
Expressing concern over the materialistic approach of the people, Amte said, the approach had been taking away the feeling of humanity from the people.
``The heart of the country does not beat properly and that is not good for the health of the nation,'' he said. Only young generation couldchange this picture and he had confidence in the ability of the youth, Amte added. The audience responded to the statement with applause.
Amte told the youths that he wanted them to promise to work for the country's prosperity. ``The 21st century is going to be the era of common man,'' he said adding when a common man was determined to do something constructive, he certainly made it. Amte won the hearts of the audience by urging the youths to wake up.
At the beginning of his speech, Baba Amte said that he recollected the memories of his late friend and industrialist Chhotubhai Patel. Amte expressed his desire that the city should have a medical college. He urged the people to promise him that they would make the efforts in this regard.
Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (VSS) president and Resident Editor of Loksatta Suresh Dwadashiwar said that Mahatma Gandhi scored a victory over the arms with humanity. It was unfortunate that we did not allow such people to live.
``It is a rare opportunity to pay homage tolate Mahatma Gandhi in the presence of Baba Amte who worked hard in his entire life to convert the dreams of Gandhiji into a reality,'' Dwadashiwar said.
Principal Madan Dhankar, in his speech, said that Baba and his institutes had been doing the social work that was expected by the Mahatma. He stressed the need for creation of a violence-free society. He urged the youths to remember Baba Amte's slogan Hath lage nirman main, nahi lage maarane maangane (The hands should be busy in constructive work and not in beating or begging).
Trust president Shantaram Potdukhe said Anandwan was the dream village of Mahatma Gandhi. On behalf of the trust, he announced a donation of Rs 1 lakh to Anandwan. Sadhanatai Amte was also present on the occasion.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
