Baba Amte (A Vision of New India)

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"I believe that as a society we have to evolve, through experimentation, a system which combines the principles of individual freedom and the common ownership... A true revolution is not destructive but creative. Only a revolution which leads to a higher sense of human dignity can lead to a higher and nobler way of life."

These are thoughts that led Baba Amte, undoubtedly one of the greatest humanists, to pursue his goals and transform his dreams into reality. The entire span of his life was dedicated to the service of those who are deprived in various ways.

The Anandwan project for leprosy patients, the Lok Biradari projects for tribals, the Knit India Movement, which was a reaction to the growing regionalism, communalism and casteism in India, the peace missions in Punjab, his participation in the Narmada Bachao Movement - all these depict the way in which Baba Amte was irresistibly drawn towards people who were afflicted and suffering.

Through this book we get a view of Baba Amte's all-encompassing vision, to create a model for resurgent India. He provided both, the mechanism and the motivation for development through a variety of projects and his sole aim was the spread of peace and harmony.

This book is one way in which the author conveys his regard for the work done by Baba Amte. It is also an attempt to reach the sensitive reader who sympathises with these concerns and perhaps wants to participate at his own level.

Since Hans Staffner passed away while the third edition was in the process of completion, an appendix has been included, that would help us to get an updated overview.

Hans Staffner S.J. (1909-1997) was born in Austrian Tyrol. After coming to India with the Society of Jesus in 1934, he became an Indian citizen in 1939. He taught theology in Pune for thirty years and later worked in Ahmednagar for the upliftment of the lower classes.

He sought to find a synthesis between Hinduism and Christianity and studied Indian religious texts and works of Indian philosophers. He has done extensive research on the life and work of Baba Amte.

Creative humanism is the ideal which, from the very beginning, has inspired all the activities and determined all the policies of Sangamner College.

Swami Vivekananda expressed this ideal in these words: "Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there undigested all your life. We must have life building, man making, character building, and assimilation of ideas. If you have assimilated fine ideas and made them your life and character you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library.

All really great movements in history start with a vision, a vision which often is called a dream. In 1910 Lenin wrote a booklet entitled: 'What Ought to Be Done?' In this booklet he outlined the action which he and his followers actually carried out when they took power in 1917. In 1910 people sneered at Lenin and said, "You are a dreamer." He replied, "I wish there were more dreamers in our party." If he had not seen it in a dream the revolution of 1917 might never have happened. That it later turned into a nightmare is a different story.