The Makings of a Social Entrepreneur: The Case of Baba Amte

Organizations are founded and built by one or a few individuals who may be called founders. A founder who plays an active role in shaping an organization's current and future state and who generates the required human and material sources for the organization can be called an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur who creates an organization to fulfil a social mission can be called a social entrepreneur. In this article, Ranjini Swamy explores some of the motives, attitudes, and abilities of a successful social entrepreneur — Baba Amte. She also discusses in detail the challenges faced by Baba in the process of establishing Anandwan — a home for leprosy patients — and the courage with which he responded to the challenges.