I would like to thank the organisers of this conference for their truly inspiring need to be in touch with the ideas and ethics of Health For All, with a tribute to Dr Amit Sengupta. I feel honoured to have been asked to be here. The storm of tributes to Amit from all over the world punctures one conceit of mine: that Amit was my special friend. I realise he was not just my special friend, but a special friend, mentor, hand-holder to many people, of all ages. He taught us all public health, but also organising, reaching out across political divides, across movements.