I entered the campus of Anandvan with great enthusiasm to see the work of a man who I had read about and dreamt to meet. In 1949, Baba Amte and Sadhana tai with their love and hard work built Anandvan (forest of joy) in the remote village of Warora in Mahrashtra. The campus is beautiful with tall green trees on either sides, farms and man made reservoirs. One sees people of all age in tune with their work- some collecting dried leaves, some busy in the farm, kids going to school.. I hear a voice from behind “Namaste” and I turn to see two beautiful grandmothers sitting on a bench smiling away. One can see and feel the spirit of the place in every person and thing.
A tour of Anandvan
Gandhiji’s idea of Gram Swaraj can be seen to have realized in this 500acre campus of Anandvan. The people who were once ostracized and thrown out of their homes and villages have with their love, compassion, spirit and courage made Anandvan a real temple, an ideal village and a center of love and service. Regardless of their age, disability, disease or broken spirit everyone in Anandvan is constantly contributing and keeping the place alive. The disfigured hands and handicapped bodies are today producing goods which have a demand outside as well.
The industrial unit expands from carpentry workshops to leather factory, handloom, printing press, iron workshop. There are banks, shops, shoe store, hospitals, schools for the blind, deaf and mute, a community hall, restaurants, community kitchens, etc They grow their own food and the surplus is sold in the market. Just as in India there are inter caste marriages in Anandvan there are inter-disability marriages which take place in the community hall.
Swaranand
Baba was a great poet and his love for music was not self contained… Swaranand is the musical tune of Anandvan. Swaranand an orchestra formed by instrumentalists, singers and dancers who are blind, deaf, mute and lepers. It was a magical sight to see a blind play the piano, a deaf play the tabla and a leper sing both in a male and a female voice. Swaranand has 500 artists and has performed about 700 shows till now. The artists attend the musical school and are constantly engaged in riyaz.
Sights of leprosy affected women who have lost all their fingers cleaning the grains, girl painting cards with toes, disabled working on farms have touched and moved me deeply. One feels miserable that living in the city one gets lost in the mad rush and can still complain about the life they live. The strength of the people at Anandvan is awe Inspiring.
Meeting Sadhna Tai:
While impatiently waiting for Jayesh bhai and the gang, I had the opportunity to meet, see and talk with Sadhna tai(Baba’s wife). Sadhnatai is 72 yrs old. However, even today courage, motherhood and love is shown in every glimpse of her. Tai talks about Baba and her experiences with great enthusiasm.
When I told her I was from Mumbai she laughingly said ‘I hope you know marathi if not let me call Raj Thackerey!’ . Tai said “My language is -khichdi language- A mix of english, hindi, marathi…” Just her sight was really powerful.. I heard stories after stories about Baba and her work, how they met, how when they started out -all they had was a hut in the middle of a jungle and scorpions and snakes as uninvited guests. They had to face countless obstacles and time and again were ridiculed by the society but their spirit remained unshattered. Sadhna tai proudly talks about how Vikas dada and Prakash dada have stepped up baba’s dream ..
I accompanied Tai to her room..
While walking to her room, a flower fell from the tree and both of us bent down to pick it up. Just like a child, tai said “this flower is mine, it fell for me !” I smiled and could only thank God for the blessed moments with tai.
Anandvan with Jayeshbhai !
It’s difficult to put into words my excitement of meeting Jayeshbhai and travelling with him ! He is the ultimate rockstar.. I had already seen the campus but to see it with Jayeshbhai is like: seeing everything with eyes of abundant love and compassion.
We started walking around and Jayesh bhai would observe the smallest of things and talk about it with great love. He would go and meet the blind man and ask him how he was doing today, caress a mentally challenged sitting on the road, hold a leper and hug him, pick up a child and play with her and help a blind set bricks around his plant. Every moment with him is inspiring, words cannot do justice to the experience of being with Jayesh bhai …
It is true that just like people, places have their own energy and vibes. Anandvan has the power to awaken the spirit of the people and heal the scars of the body, soul and mind. At least once in your life please do go visit this temple of love , the forest of joy !
Pretty soon the planned day took an unplanned turn. All 13 of us wore BIG infectious smiles, filled our pockets with 
