Panaji (Goa): World renowned social worker, Padma Shree Dr Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr Mandakini Amte, who has also won equal accolodates, were cynosure of all eyes as they walked up to the stage of Neutral Fest on Friday evening at Taj Vivanta in Panaji.
The event marked one year of our Neutral View Private Limited group which has an English fortnightly, Marathi fortnightly ‘Yeva Kokanat’ and a website. Amte couple who has been serving the humanity and wild since last 44 years had travelled from their village of Hemalkasa near Nagpur to Goa to attend the function.
Donning blue khadi kurta, Dr Amte won the hearts of the audience as he narrated anecdotes after anecdotes about his life which was inspired from his father Late Baba Amte, much acclaimed social worker who worked for the leapers at Anandvan.
As Dr Amte tried to sum up journey of his 44 years with interesting stories, the audience were completely glued to him, listening to his every word. The down-to-earth person who is winner of Magsaysay award winner narrated how the usual picnic to Bhambragad, which was almost 250 kilometres away from Anandvan, four decades back changed his life.
Married to medical practitioner Dr Mandakini, Amte ventured into entire a new world of tribal population getting them into mainstream after continuous efforts of more than 44 years. The real life of story of Dr Prakash Amte has also inspired a movie starring Nana Patekar, which was released with same name two years back.
The trials and tribulations of working with tribal population who only believed in ‘witchcraft’ and getting them to accept the scientific form of medicines to cure their ailments are inspiring for the urbanized people, who are completely unaware about life in the forest.
Amte’s struggle to get acceptance amongst the barely dressed tribal community who initially used to run away with the sight of a civilized human being has already been listed in his autobiography, which is written in Marathi ‘Aranyatil Prakashvata.’ But it was a treat to hear the person discussing about the incidents himself.
The event was opened with the lighting of traditional lamp by Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte in presence of Directors of Neutral View group Mr Uttam Kumar and Ms Priya Salgotra and Secretary of Rotary Club of Miramar Amrita Deshpande.
Chief Executive officer of Neutral View group Rupesh Samant welcomed the guests.
Dr Mandakini Amte in her brief address wished all the best for the media group towards their endeavour to have neutral journalism.
Mr Kumar in his closing remark assured that the media group will always remain neutral but sought the support of the patrons to remain so. He said that the media group intends to trigger reverse migration in the State by supporting anyone that wants to create employment opportunities.
Neutral Fest would be an annual event on the social calendar of Goa.
