Man Raises 123 Abandoned Children on Barren Land Turned Green

When Shankarbaba Papalkar took in four abandoned girls with disabilities in 1990, he had 25 acres of barren land and an unshakable commitment. Today, that same land holds 15,000 trees and a family of 123 children who call him father.

Papalkar started his journey in Mumbai, where he published a Marathi magazine and learned a devastating truth. Girls with disabilities were being pushed into exploitation and left to die. He decided to do something about it.

His ashram in Wazzar, Amravati grew slowly but deliberately. Some children arrived as infants, abandoned within hours or days of birth. Others came later, many visually impaired, deaf, or with physical and intellectual disabilities.

When the number reached 123, Papalkar made a difficult choice. He stopped accepting new children because he knew he couldn't responsibly care for more. Today, the ashram houses 98 girls and 25 boys.

He gave them more than shelter. On every child's Aadhaar card, he entered his full name in the father's column: Dr Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar. For children who had never known family, it meant having someone to call their own.

Under his Vazzar Model, everyone contributes based on their abilities. Children with intellectual disabilities learned to water trees using simple cans that delivered water directly to the roots. Their daily care transformed barren earth into flourishing green space.

The Ripple Effect

Twenty-one daughters and three sons have married and started families of their own. Twelve residents secured government jobs, building careers they once thought impossible.

Mala's story shows what's possible with the right support. Abandoned at a railway station and taken in at age 10, she learned Braille from Papalkar. Despite 95% visual impairment, she cleared the MPSC exam and now works as a revenue assistant at Nagpur Collectorate.

Papalkar continues fighting for systemic change. He advocates for lifelong rehabilitation, knowing that institutional care typically ends at 18 and leaves vulnerable adults at risk of exploitation and homelessness.

When he received the Padma Shri in 2024, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, he dedicated it to the children. The award carried his name, but he believes the recognition belongs to them.