Thursday, July 18, 2013

Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar (Thakkar Bapa ): Friend of Tribal People



Born in Gujarat in 1869, Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar (A V Thakkar), affectionately known as Thakkar Bapa, was a leading Gandhian social reformer whose work in the field of uplift of   tribal people is immense. He was a devout member of the Servants of India Society which was founded in 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
 
Though he never joined Congress, he was made a general Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh, founded by Mahatma Gandhi. During 1934-35, he undertook a harijan tour accompanied by Gandhi. He was the founder of Bhil Seva Mandal and Gond Seva Sangh. Gond Seva Sangh was started in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. It is now known as Vanavasi Seva Mandal.

Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar had written the book ‘Tribes of India’ that was published in 1950.

Thakkar Bapa died in 1951.



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