Baba Amteji is a legendary figure in social service and concern for the underderprivileged.Anandwan is the first of the three ashrams started by Baba Amte to treat and rehabilitate people suffering from leprosy. Baba Amte after taking a leprosy orientation course at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, started his fight against leprosy. He used to set up about 11 weekly clinics around Warora. Later taking his work to next level and help rehabilitate the patients he started Anandwan. Anandwan was registered in 1951 and recieved a a state land grant of 250 acres. In those days leprosy was associated with social stigma in those days and patients were disowned by the society. It was then belived that leprosy patients were sinners paying for their sins they had done. There was also a widespread fear that leprosy was contagious and can spread by touch. Baba Amte commitment against fighting leprosy can be known from the incident when he allowed bacilli from a leprosy patient to be injected into him while participating in a an experiemental test.Baba Amte also started Somnath and Ashokvan ashrams for treating leprosy patients. .Today Anandwan has two hospitals, a university, an orphanage and also a school for the blind. The self sufficient unit ashram has more than 5,000 people are dependent on it.He belongs to the company of great people like Mahatma Gandhi,Vinoba Bhave etc.,
