SSC
Which Indian social worker received the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1988?
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Answer: Option C — Baba Amte
Detailed Solution
Murlidhar Devidas Amte (1914-2008), known as Baba Amte, received the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1988. Exam books often describe him as the only Indian to win this award.
About Baba Amte:
- He was born in Hinganghat, Wardha district, Maharashtra, into a wealthy family, and trained as a lawyer.
- Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he gave up his comfortable life to serve the poor and the outcast.
- His life's main work was the care and rehabilitation of people suffering from leprosy, who were then shunned by society.
In 1949-51, he founded "Anandwan" ("forest of joy") at Warora in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. It became a self-reliant community where leprosy patients, disabled people and other marginalised people live and work with dignity, running farms, workshops and small industries.
He also founded Somnath and Lok Biradari Prakalp (at Hemalkasa, Gadchiroli, for the Madia Gond tribals, run by his son Dr Prakash Amte and daughter-in-law Dr Mandakini Amte).
In 1985 and 1988, he led the "Bharat Jodo" (Knit India) marches for national unity.
He later supported the Narmada Bachao Andolan against the Sardar Sarovar dam, living on the banks of the Narmada for years.
His awards:
- Padma Shri (1971) and Padma Vibhushan (1986).
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (1985).
- UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights (1988).
- Templeton Prize (1990).
- Gandhi Peace Prize (1999).
The UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights is given every five years by the UN General Assembly. Earlier winners include Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. (1968), and later winners include Nelson Mandela (1988) and Malala Yousafzai (2013).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Medha Patkar led the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
- ✗Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize (2014) for his work against child labour.
- ✗Sunderlal Bahuguna led the Chipko Movement.
Quick tip
Remember: Baba Amte = UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights (1988), Anandwan (Warora) for leprosy patients, Magsaysay (1985), Templeton (1990), Gandhi Peace Prize (1999).
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Art & Culture Personalities — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Art & Culture Personalities, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the people behind India's art and culture: classical and folk dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists, painters, sculptors, theatre and film personalities, and the gurus who founded or revived art forms. Questions also cover the art form each person is known for and the honours they have received. Exams typically name a person and ask for their art form, or name an art form and ask who popularised it. Recent Padma award winners from the arts appear often, so link each name to the field and state the award was given for. Since award lists change every year, always revise from the latest official list rather than relying on older notes. Practise the art and culture personalities questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.