Abhay Bang Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Other Name: Dr. Abhay Bang

Profession(s): • Activist • Community Health Researcher

Date of Birth: 23 September 1950 (Saturday)

Age (as of 2024): 74 Years

Birthplace: Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Wardha

Marriage Date: Year, 1977

Age: 74 Years

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EDUCATION

School: Anand Niketan, Sevagram Ashram, Wardha (until 9th class)

College/University: • Nagpur University, Maharashtra • Johns Hopkins University, USA

Educational Qualification(s): • MBBS from Nagpur University (1972) • MD Medicine from Nagpur University (1977) • Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University (1984)

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″ (170 cm)

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status: Married

Wife/Spouse: Rani Bang (activist, community health researcher)

Children: Son(s) – 2 • Anand Bang (elder) (physician, health specialist) • Amrut Bang (younger) (program director at NIRMAN) Daughter – None

Parents: Father – Thakurdas Bang (philosopher, economist) (deceased) Mother – Suman Bang

Siblings: Brother – Ashok (elder) Sister – None

Wife: Rani Bang

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards, Honours, Achievements: 1987 • Adivasi Sevak Award by the Government of Maharashtra for Health Care and Research in Tribal Area 1994 • Mahatma Gandhi Award 1996 • Natu Foundation Award for Contribution to Social Work in Maharashtra (January) • Named ‘The Couple of the Year’ (with Rani Bang ) by The Week • Indian Council of Medical Research’s Sheshadri Gold Medal for ‘SEARCH’ for outstanding contribution to the field of community medicine in India 1999 • Dr. James Tong Award by the Voluntary Health Association of India for ‘SEARCH’ for being the outstanding voluntary institution in India 2000 • Anant Bhalerao Award • Sahitya Samrat Na. Chi. Kelkar Literary Award • Sant Bal Award for Humanitarian Service, Ahmedabad • Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan Award for the outstanding contribution to rural development in Maharashtra 2001 • Vinaykumar Parashar Smruti Purskar, Akola • The State Award for Literary Writing for the Marathi-language book ‘My Enlightening Heart Disease’ (November) • The State Award for De-addiction by the Government of Maharashtra 2002 • Ramshastri Prabhune Award for Social Justice, Satara • Vivekanand Manav Seva Award, Pune • Sat Paul Mittal National Award by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD), New Delhi 2003 • Rajiv Gandhi Award, Mumbai • Prabhat Puraskar for Social Work by V. Shantaram Trust • Maharashtra Bhushan 2004 • Lok Shikshak Puraskar by the Pandurang Apte Guruji Smarak Trust • Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award, Mumbai (7 January) • Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award from Shri Ahilya Utsav Samiti, Indore 2005 • Bhai Ghannaiya Award from Red Swastik Society, Mumbai • Navratna Puraskar from Doordarshan Sahyadri, Mumbai • Anandamayi Award from Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan, Mumbai • Spirit of Mastek Award for exemplary work that has helped reduce child deaths at Gadchiroli (December) • Named as the Global Health Hero by Time, USA 2006 • Alert Citizen Award from Alert Citizen Forum, Maharashtra • MacArthur Foundation International Award for ‘SEARCH’ for creative and social work 2007 • Pariwartanwadi Award from Dr. Shivram Mali Public Act, Kolhapur 2008 • Marotrao Dhule Smruti Puraskar, Nevasa • Qimpro Platinum Standard Award for National Statesman for Quality – Health Care from Qimpro Foundation, Mumbai 2009 • Baa Award from Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune • Bhausaheb Dhamankar Preana Puraskar • National Character Award from Charitrya Pratishthan, Pune 2010 • Dory Storms Child Survival Recognition Award from M Core, Washington • Swami Rama Humanitarian Award from Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Dehradun • Received Jewel of Maharashtra Award from State DNL Summit in association with Zee 24 Taas and Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai • Freedom-fighter Dada Undalkar Social Award from Dada Undalkar Smarak Samiti, Undale, Pune • Samajik Gaurav Puraskar from URL Foundation, Mumbai • Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar from Haware Foundation, Mumbai 2011 • Anna Hazare Samaj Ratna Puraskar from Adarsh College of Arts, Commerce, and Science and Pragati Andh Vidyalaya, Badlapur • CNN-IBN Life Time Achievement Award from Reliance Foundation • Swasthya Bharat Samman from Zee News and LIC, New Delhi • Jaitai Matru Gaurav Puraskar from Shri Jaitai Temple Committee, Wani • Jeevan Sadhana Award from Nagpur University • Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Pune 2012 • Prerana Poonj Sanman at the Vidarbh Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Nagpur • Pulotsav Social Gratitude Award, Pune • D B Ratnappa Kumbhar Samaj Bhushan Award, Jaysingpur • Abhijeetdada Kadam Humanitarian Award from Abhijeet Dada Kadam Memorial Foundation, Pune • Professional Excellence Award from the Academy of Medical Sciences, Nagpur 2013 • Honoured with the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA • Elected to the Society of Scholars by the Johns Hopkin University • Babasaheb Ambedkar Daleet Mitra Puraskar • Dr. Narendra Dabholkar Smruti Award, Satara • Manavta Sewa Puraskar by Suryoday Trust Indore • Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Puraskar from the Subordinate Engineers Association, Gadchiroli • Baba Amte Manavta Puraskar from Vidyarthi Sahayyak Samiti, Warora 2014 • Sanjeevani Sanman from Sahyadri Doodarshan, Mumbai • Desasnehi Award from India Development Foundation, Bangalore • Kesharilalji Bordia Smruti Sanman from Jeevan Raksha Charitable Trust, Udaipur 2015 • Doctorate Honoris Causa from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow • Social Award from Krantisinh Nana Patil Mahavidyalaya, Sangli, Maharashtra • Doctor of Literature (D. Litt) from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune 2016 • Public Health Champion Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health in the Country from WHO India • Vidarbha Bhushan Award from Vidarbha Samaj Sangh, Mumbai • Dr. Gujar Award from Maharashtra Arogya Mandal, Hadapsar, Pune • Received the 2015 IMC Juran Quality Medal from IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award Trust, Mumbai • Civil Liberties Award from Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust, Mumbai 2017 • Adarniya P. D. Patil Maharashtra Bhushan Purskar, Karad • Life Time Achievement Award at the Navabharat Health Care Summit and Awards, Mumbai • Sahyadri Lifetime Achievement Award from Sahyadri Pratishthan Maharashtra • Janseva Puraskar from Nemgonda Dada Patil Night College, Sangli 2018 • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Mumbai • Life Sadhana Gaurav Award from Gondwana University, Gadchiroli • Healthcare Humanitarian Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), New Delhi (30 August) • Iconic Changemaker Award from Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley at the Businessline Changemaker Awards in New Delhi • Mrudgandh Puraskar from Vitthal Umap Foundation, Mumbai • Padma Shri 2019 • Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik (presented by the Maharashtra CM in Mumbai) • Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar Award 2020 • JRD Tata Award from Ratan Tata for Excellence in Public Service at the Population Foundation of India, New Delhi • Doctor of Science (DSc) from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences University, Loni, Maharashtra 2024 • Santokbaa Humanitarian Award

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Abhay Bang’s journey began in the serene environment of the Sevagram Ashram in Wardha, where he was nurtured under the mentorship of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a prominent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. This upbringing deeply influenced his values, as his parents were ardent followers of Gandhi’s philosophies and the Sarvodaya Movement. Following Gandhi’s guidance, his father set aside plans to study economics in the United States, choosing instead to immerse himself in the economic realities of Indian villages. Abhay’s foundational education at Anand Niketan, a school that embraced Gandhi’s Nai Taleem method, provided him with a unique perspective on education, which he carried with him into his future endeavors.

At the tender age of 13, Abhay Bang began to envision a life dedicated to improving the health of rural communities, inspired by a pivotal conversation with his elder brother Ashok regarding future aspirations. Driven by this newfound passion, he pursued a medical career, culminating in an MBBS degree from Nagpur University in 1972, where he distinguished himself by earning three gold medals. His academic excellence continued as he secured first place in the All India Competition for MD Selection at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, graduating with an MD in Medicine from Nagpur University in 1977, the same year he married his fellow student, Rani Bang.

In 1984, Abhay and Rani took their commitment to healthcare a step further by completing their Master of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University, achieving an impressive GPA of 3.96 out of 4. Following their studies, the couple returned to India, intent on addressing the healthcare challenges faced by underserved communities, particularly in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. In December 1985, they founded the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), a critical initiative aimed at improving local healthcare. Their groundbreaking Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) model significantly reduced infant mortality rates in the region, capturing global interest and eventually leading to the training of approximately 800,000 village women through the ASHA program.

Abhay and Rani’s innovative practices extended beyond neonatal care; they also conducted extensive research to tackle pressing health issues in their community. Their efforts culminated in the first community-based study of gynecological problems among rural women in 1989, which influenced international reproductive health policies. Throughout the years, Abhay took on numerous advisory and research roles, contributing to initiatives aimed at improving birth outcomes, enhancing reproductive health, and tackling local challenges such as alcohol consumption. His dedication and expertise in public health led him to serve in various capacities, including the Child Death Review Committee for the Government of Maharashtra and as a member of the National Commission on Population. In May 2017, the Bombay High Court sought his guidance on child mortality and malnutrition in Maharashtra, which led to the implementation of his recommendations in state policies.

As of 2024, Abhay and Rani’s legacy continues to resonate, highlighted by their recent appearance on the popular television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati 16. Their lifelong commitment to public health and community service remains a testament to the profound impact of their work—an inspiring narrative that not only reflects their individual journeys but also embodies the spirit of compassion and dedication they have brought to the healthcare landscape in India.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.