. Dashrath Manjhi
Born : 14 january 1929
Died : 17 august
Other name : Mountain man
Wife : Falguni Devi
" Mountain man " Yes, we also known Dashrath manjhi. His life gives a moral lesson that a small man, who has no money and no power can challenge a might mountain.
It was the year 1960.In, Manjhi, a native of Gahlaur village near Gaya district in Bihar, was married off in his childhood. As a grown up man, when he returned to his village after working in Dhanbaad coal mines for seven years. he fell head-over heels in love with a village girl. Village girl, Falguni Devi.
Manjhi and his family lived had to trek up and down the mountain for 75 odd kilometers to get to basic facilities such as hospitals school, water, supply etc. Manjhi would climb the mountain every day to work in the field of a landlord on the other side of the mountain to feld his family.
However, while crossing a hillock to bring him lunch, Falguni Devi slipped and seriously injured herself. The of medical facilities due to the distance led to her death. Manjhi, who was deeply disturbed by her death, decided to carve a path through the Gehlour hills.
Villagers and even his father ridiculed him for challenging a huge mountain. But Manjhi was adamant on his firm decision.
Years passed on, during which Guhlour was hit by a massive drought and villagers evacuated the village. Dashrath's father tauted him that what he had achieved in last so many years... He tried to convince Dashrath to accompany them to a city, where he could earn bread for his two children.
Dashrath decided to continue on his Herculean tasks. With no water and no food, Dashrath was forced to drink dirty water and eat leaves.
Manjhi completed the road after 22 years of dedication and hard work. But manjhi was not done. Soon after he completed the near impossible feat, he went to see the then Bihar chief minister, Nitish kumar to get the road tarred. It is said that the chief minister offered manjhi his seat out of respect a mounnental gesture considering the faced severe oppression the Musahar caste faced in caster-ridden india up until then.
The Bihar Government also proposed his name for the Padma shree award in 2006 in the social service sector. In fact, there is a hospital in Gehlour village named after him.
On his death, he was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar. Even today, posthumously, he continues to inspire the people of his village and millions across the country.
Comments
Post a Comment