Cornelius R: put up some bio v1 - done

2026-04-19T16:32:40Z

put up some bio v1 - done

New page

{{Short description|Indian social worker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar
| image = Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1942|2|14}}
| birth_place = [[Amravati district]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = Social worker
| known_for = Activism for orphaned and disabled children
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2024)<br>Honorary [[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt.]] from [[Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University]] (2021)
}}
'''Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar''' (born 14 February 1942), also known as '''Shankar Baba Papalka''' is an Indian social worker from the [[Amravati district]] of Maharashtra, India, known for his work towards rehabilitation of disabled and orphaned children.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jan 27, 2024 |title='I dedicate this award to Divyang children': Social worker Shankar Baba Papalka on being awarded Padma Shri |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/i-dedicate-this-award-to-divyang-children-social-worker-shankar-baba-papalka-on-being-awarded-padma-shri-101706308351304.html |access-date={{TODAY}} |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth-highest civilian honour of India, in 2024 in the field of social work.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-25 |title=Padma Awards 2024: Full list of winners to be conferred with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/padma-awards-2024-full-list-of-34-winners-to-be-conferred-with-one-of-the-highest-civilian-honors/articleshow/107153472.cms |access-date=2025-06-14 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref name="PadmaAwardsGov2">{{Cite web |title=Dr. Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar - Padma Awards |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/202491.pdf |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.padmaawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=अनाथांचे बाबा झाले पद्मश्री; राष्ट्रपतींच्या हस्ते शंकरबाबांना पुरस्कार प्रदान |url=https://marathi.abhijeetbharat.com/Encyc/2024/5/10/shankar-baba-papalkar-honored-with-padma-shri-award-for-social-work.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=marathi.abhijeetbharat.com |language=mr}}</ref> Papalkar is a follower of [[Osho]] and attributes his motivation for humanitarian work to Osho's teachings.<ref name="OshoNews">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-22 |title=Shankar Baba dedicates his Padma Shri Award at the feet of Osho |url=https://www.oshonews.com/2024/06/22/shankar-baba-dedicates-his-padma-shri-award-at-the-feet-of-osho/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |work=Osho News}}</ref>

== Activism ==
Papalkar used to publish a Marathi magazine ‘Devkinandan Gopal’ from Mumbai in the early 70s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2018-06-04 |title=Shankar Baba Papalkar: Up for the 'Challenged' task |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/shankar-baba-papalkar-up-for-the-challenged-task/articleshow/64441278.cms |access-date=2025-06-15 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> In 1990, he founded the Late Ambadaspant Vaidya Matimand Mukbadir Shishu Sanjivani Sanstha, an orphanage for disabled and orphaned children, on 25 acres of land in Wazzar, approximately 50 kilometers from the city of [[Amravati]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Gulf News |date=2025-04-22 |title=From dustbin to officer's desk: Abandoned as blind infant, now officer in India's Nagpur collectorate |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/from-dustbin-to-officer-s-desk-abandoned-as-a-blind-infant-now-a-government-officer-at-nagpur-collectorate-1.500101852 |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Gulf News |language=en}}</ref> The organization began by providing shelter to four disabled girls.<ref name="PadmaAwardsGov2" /> Over the years, the ashram has grown to care for numerous children with physical and mental disabilities. As of 2024, the ashram was home to 123 children (98 girls and 25 boys).<ref name=":0" />

Papalkar is known for providing the children in his care with a legal identity by giving them his own name. The [[Aadhaar]] cards of the children list their father's name as "Dr. Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar". He has also focused on their social integration by arranging marriages in the community. His work, which he has termed the "Vazzar Model," emphasizes self-help and mutual support among the children to foster a life of dignity.<ref name="PadmaAwardsGov2" />

Papalkar has also been a vocal advocate for a law concerning the rehabilitation of orphaned and mentally challenged individuals after they turn 18.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shukla |first=Saumya |date=2024-02-05 |title=Papalkar accepts Padma Shri with condition THE NEW INDIAN |url=https://www.newindian.in/papalkar-accepts-padma-shri-with-condition/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=THE NEW INDIAN |language=en}}</ref> He has also led environmental efforts at the ashram, planting around 15,000 trees on the land, which are cared for by the resident children.<ref name="PadmaAwardsGov2" />

== Awards and recognition ==
Papalkar was awarded [[Padma Shri]] in 2025 in recognition of his lifelong work. He also has an honorary [[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt.]] from the [[Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University]] awarded in 2021.<ref name="TOI2021">{{Cite web |date=2021-05-28 |title=Amt varsity to confer DLitt on Shankar Baba Papalkar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/amt-varsity-to-confer-dlitt-on-shankar-baba-papalkar/articleshow/83017856.cms |access-date=2025-06-15 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:People from Amravati district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]

Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar - Revision history

Cornelius R: put up some bio v1 - done