Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar,
also known as Thakkar Bapa, who passed away on 20 January 1951, was an Indian social worker who worked
for upliftment of tribal people in Gujarat state in India.
Since his younger days, Thakkar Bapa was involved in activities
that would free the marginalized communities of social evils. He founded a
school for the children of sweepers and implemented a scheme for making them
debt-free. In 1915, Thakkar Bapa was introduced to Gandhiji, who convinced him
to join the Indian Independence Movement. He was arrested by the British
government for leading a group of volunteers who were participating in the
picketing of liquor shops. He also played a crucial role during the negotiations
of the Poona Pact. At Gandhiji’s request, he became one of the General
Secretaries of the Harijan
Sevak Sang, an organization founded by Gandhiji that focused on the
rights of the marginalized sections of society. In 1918, Thakkar Bapa played a
crucial role in presenting the Compulsory Primary Education Bill to the Bombay
Legislative Council.
Thakkar Bapa authored the book, Tribes of India, published in 1950. He spent his
entire life working towards the upliftment of the marginalized. On 29 November
1929, Sardar Patel presented him with a Commemoration Volume. In 1969, the
Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.
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