The Optimist

Michelangelo: “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”

I was lucky to get included in the group visiting Lokbiradari Prakalp, Hemalkasa on 8^th April 2017. I was destined to meet the divine spirit in human body! The Optimist!!

The man, a budding Doctor came to this place with his great Baba 47 years ago. Baba showed him mountain of fire, which he chose to climb. We, mortals, strive their whole life for worldly pleasures. Scale our success on quantum of pleasures and comforts we have amassed and I am sure, die unhappily. Here was a young man who was neither aware nor wanted to chase any of the dreams of outside world. I say outside world, because his Baba had created world of his own. The world of love, affection, empathy and service. The world constituted of two parts. In one where those who are deprived of love, care and affection and the other with the ones, who were capable of bestowing it. This world was entirely different but within the existing world. The creator, benefactor of this world was an institute in himself. Tornado, which knew no boundaries, it kept going on and on, creating in its trail the vortex, which then became tornado itself. Swiping away agony, pain and sufferings of thousands and thousands and sucking in good souls around the Globe.

I am too small a person to comment or say anything about the mammoth work or contribution of this mighty soul to the society. A lot has been already said, written and rewarded. Rewards! This reminds me there is one hall on Prakalp dedicated to laurels, awards and certificates for their contribution, received from across the World. It is a huge source of inspiration for those who are ready to work for returns, but somehow I got the impression that these are dust collecting work of arts for those who have received it. They were working before the felicitations and continued to do so after.

We reached Hemalkasa little late, tired and exhausted after travelling for 5-6 hours in an AC Traveller. That evening we could not go around the Prakalp. Prakalp has some rules and regulations which are strictly followed by the inmates and, guests are required to do so. One documentary was shown in the evening for the groups visiting Hemalkasa. I was shocked to learn that it took three days of travelling and that too without any guarantee to reach the destination. One had to cross Indrawati, Pamul Gautami, Pearlkota and Bandia rivers and none of them had any bridges to reach the place when the idea germinated way back in 1970. The place simply didn’t exist in any of the maps let alone the tribal who dwell the place. The place was totally cut off during monsoon. What was required to be done? Everything! Place and the people had nothing, I mean absolutely nothing. Tribal had no existence as human.

Today when we saw it there was no sign of what it was years ago. It was transformed in to a world akin to where I came from. There are buildings, hospital, hostels, school, running tap water, fans and coolers and even automated roti maker to make hundreds of roties required for the students, volunteers, all the members working on the Prakalp and visiting guests. Full-fledged computer lab with Dell laptops, internet connections, and tribal students boldly explaining us, how they make use of internet, how they write blogs and discuss movies and world events. Let alone addressing us, same children, few decades ago would have ran away at the sight of urban humans.

Coming to animals, yes his portrait is not complete without his pets. Pets is a wrong word but there is no other word in dictionary, which can define the relation he has with his animals. I can’t say domesticated as the acceptance is mutual. The way he has accepted animals in his world, animals have reciprocated and given him room in their own world. It is very difficult to express in words, one has to see, experience and allow mind to make something out of it. Love alone can transcend to reach them and resonate.

How is it possible? How come the transformer be just like you and me? Questions kept nagging me from the day I returned. Simplest answer is shrug the shoulders and say he is simply great, gifted, all cannot achieve such a feat. Of course all can’t even think of what he has achieved. No doubt he is gifted!!

I wonder the day he reached the jungle with his father and decided to dedicate himself for the betterment of tribal, provide medical aid and education, what would have crossed his mind. We, in fact did ask him this question when we met him during our visit. The answer was exceptionally simple he said ‘We want to do it’ that is all.

He knew he will do it, same way as his father knew it when he started Anandwan, Ashokwan, Somanath, Anand Niketan and so on. It is impossible without conviction. I feel the driving force is urge to offer oneself, but it is not sacrifice. Sacrifice leaves feeling of being obliged. It is absent here, it is total acceptance of the served. When we attend to our own wound or an aliment there is no feeling of giving. The couple works in this manner. It is love, love for mankind, love for good of mankind, love for nature. Love is giving. There is no effort involved in serving, it will come naturally when you are filled to the brim with love. Compassion, concern, kindness devoid of ego, can best describe them. When I met them, I could see what is ‘selfless’. It was not miracle or magic!!

We were lucky, we could spend 40-45 minutes in the presence of both of them and actually talked to them, listened to them. They are so humble, unpretentious that it is hard to believe that Dr. Prakash & Dr. Mandakini Amte have achieved this feat. Dr. Mandakini Amte joined him when she had all the options to choose pleasures. The couple has recognition around the Globe, but we could not see even a glimpse of that aura around them. He talked to every one of us asked about what we do for our living, when my turn came I had a funny feeling in my stomach, do I do anything? Here was man who does everything for living of others what do I say to him? I felt I am seeing new Avatara of Dadhichi Rushi one who gave his life to create Vajra, weapon of destruction for Devas, with difference that this Rushi is doing so for creation. May be he is the Karmyogi, Krishna tried to explain in Bhagwat Geeta. I bowed to both of them, touched their feet to salute them and their deeds. I salute the whole family.

I will end with few lines from Baba Amte’s poem, which he composed on wedding of Dr. Prakash and Dr Mandakini.

The river swelled with the pity they poured

And the love they scattered;

A hand raised to bless the twain,

Woodward, the two went.