There was a plea to the President of India for a state funeral for Maharishi - but it looks as though it went unheeded..
Today I read of the state funeral of someone virtually unknown in the west, Baba Amte
.
I had actually been looking for evidence of an outbreak of press attention to Maharishi's funeral rites. I think the movement would like that, (they are asking for any followers in India to turn up tomorrow morning for the rites). But I am intrigued to note that India values plain humanitarianism, and has given us, at this momentous time, the message of Baba Amte to dwell on.
'Baba Amte (Marathi: बाबा आमटे) (December 26, 1914 - February 09, 2008), born as Murlidhar Devidas Amte was a respected Indian social activist. He was the founder of several ashrams and communities for the service of leprosy patients and other marginalized people that were shunned by society. Anandwan (literally, "Forest of Joy"), located in the remote and economically less privileged district of Chandrapur, Maharashtra, is the most well-known amongst them and was his home.
Baba Amte dedicated his life to various other social causes, notably wildlife preservation and his involvement in Narmada Bachao Andolan.'
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