Google celebrates Baba Amte’s 104th birthday with a doodle

Google has paid a tribute to social activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte on his 104th birth anniversary with a Doodle. Baba Amte dedicated his life to serving those in need, especially those afflicted with leprosy. "Exposed early on to a life of privilege, he would hunt wild animals, play sports, and drive luxurious cars. He went on to study law and was running his own successful firm by his 20s. Despite his upbringing, however, Amte was aware of India’s class inequalities throughout his childhood," Google blog post read. After an encountered with a man suffering from leprosy Baba Amte`s life was changed forever.

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"A strong believer in national unity, Amte launched the first Knit India March in 1985. At age 72, he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, a distance of more than 3,000 miles with the simple purpose to inspire unity in India," the post added. 

Amte and his wife, Sadhna Amte, had started an organisation for the leprosy patients at Anandwan in Maharashtra in 1950. This pioneering work was started as an Arogya. Baba Amte won the Padma Shri Award in 1971, the 1988 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, the 1999 Gandhi Peace Prize and the Dr Ambedkar International Award.

Amte founded three ashrams for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, disabled people, and people from marginalised sections of the society in Maharashtra, India. On August 15, 1949, he started a hospital in Anandvan under a tree. In 1973, Amte founded the Lok Biradari Prakalp to work for the Madia Gond tribal people of Gadchiroli District.

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Amte devoted his life to many other social causes, notably the Knit India movement for public awareness of the importance of ecological balance, wildlife preservation, and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

On Tuesday, Google rolled out a special doodle for Christmas. "It's that festive time of year again! Sending along holiday cheer to you & your loved ones during this merry time. Happy Holidays!" Today’s doodle shows Santa taking their power nap before they are off to bring cheers and deliver the gifts. Google had also launched a dedicated Santa Tracker application for Android and a Chrome browser extension.