DASHRATH MANJHI...........THE MOUNTAIN MAN

Determination, hard work and enthusiasm, can make any goal achieve. This statement can be well exampled and explained using the name of Dashrath Manjhi, popularly known as “ The Mountain Man”. This man has immensely and intensely proved that human beings are capable of doing and achieving everything that they want if the path of hard ship is followed. This inspirational personality was born on 1934 in Gehlaur, Bihar. He was a poor labourer who carved a path 110 m long, 9.1 m wide and 7.6 m deep through a hillock using only a hammer and chisel. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km. Now let us know what made him to do the same and what is the history behind his harculous step.

In 1956, Manjhi was married to a village girl, Falguni Devi. After working for seven years in Dhanbad coal mines, he returned to his village where he started living with his wife. They spent a very simple, comfortable and satisfied life. They were happy and loved each other very much as other husband-wives. Falguni gave birth to a baby boy.

Gehlaur is a under developed village in India. It was a remote area and the villagers had to travel 70 kilometres to reach to the nearest town to get medical attention.While crossing Gehlour hills to bring him lunch, Falguni slipped and solemnly injured herself, which eventually led her to death due to lack of medical care. This tragedy left Dashrath in deep grief and he was unable to accept the fact that her beloved wife lost her life because of lack of transportation to the hospitals. He was vastly disturbed by the scenario and decided to make a way or solution to the existing problem. He didn’t want that the villagers should face something similar which he did. He desired that the villagers could have easier access to medical attention. In the memory of his wife, he carved the path in the Gehlour hills. He started working on his goal. People laughed at him thinking that his idea is silly. But this man worked days and nights with sweat and blood for these people only. His determination and hard work was enough to bow down a mountain.

Thanks to movies and televisions which gave him the deserved respect and popularity. Films Division produced a documentary directed by Kumud Ranjan named The Man Who Moved the Mountain based on Manjhi's life in 2011. In August 2015, the Hindi movie Manjhi - The Mountain Man got released and well received. The movie directed by Ketan Mehta and Nawazuddin Siddiqui played the role of Manjhi along with Radhika Apte as Falguni Devi. Manjhi's deeds are referred to in the 2011 Kannada movie Olave Mandara. The first episode of Season 2 of the Aamir Khan hosted TV Show Satyamev Jayate, aired in March 2014, was dedicated to Dashrath Manjhi.

Yes, he proved, when there is a will, there is always a way. He made his firm determination which did gain him and more to his village a solution to a last longing problem. Hard work is the only way that can surely fetch you anything and lead you to your dreams. Desires, dreams and imaginations can be turned true............only hard ship, focus and concentration are the requirements. One man can make a way from a huge mountain in 22 years and that to single handed, without any kind help or consolation. In fact people discouraged him for his social and superior thinking, of course he didn’t consider them as he was in his own way to achieve something not for himself but for others. This attitude is very necessary to achieve our aim. He is an inspiration for us whom we will consider as an idol in the field of hard ship.

Manjhi died on 17 Aug 2007 at the age of 73, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar. For his feat, Manjhi became popularly known as the 'Mountain Man'. The Bihar government also proposed his name for the Padma Shree award in 2006 in social service sector. A stamp was released by India Post in the "Personalities of Bihar" series on 26th December 2016.To honour his achievements, a hospital in his name is also proposed for serving the villagers.