By IANS
Warora (Maharashtra) : Baba Amte, noted Gandhian activist who worked for rehabilitation of leprosy patients and physically challenged and championed the green cause, was laid to rest with full state honours at his Anandvan residence here Sunday.
Baba’s widow Sadhana, sons Vikas and Prakash and other family members were joined by thousands of his admirers in paying their last respects to the messiah of leprosy patients and green crusader amid chants of his favourite mantra “Bharat Jodo – Bharat Jodo” (Knit India).
The funeral was shorn of rituals and the Gandhian activist was buried instead of being cremated in deference to his wishes. Baba had said he should be buried so that micro-organisms feed on his body and every bit of it gets utilized rather than the ash polluting water sources.
Born Murlidhar Devidas Amte and popularly known as Baba, he was honoured for his exemplary work with several national and international awards, including Padma Vibhushan and the Magsaysay award. He passed away at his residence here Saturday morning at the age of 94.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh accompanied by his ministerial colleagues Anees Ahmed, Anil Deshmukh and Balasaheb Thorat besides former Bombay High Court chief justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari and Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar placed wreaths on the body before it was laid tyo rest.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari, Shiv Sena legislator Diwakar Raote and former central minister Shantaram Potdukhe were also present together with several other leaders and social activists.
The atmosphere remained electrified for a long time after the funeral with hundreds of Anandvan inmates, including leprosy patients and physically challenged people, joining NBA workers and Bharat Jodo campaign volunteers singing songs of the many movements that Baba led in his decades-long public life.