Dashrath Manjhi was a real man who dares
to carve a road through a 360 feet long, 30 feet wide and 25 feet high mountain
singlehandedly. He sustained his effort for 22 years for realization of his
will, which shortened travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya from
55 Km to 15 Km (wiki). Love for her wife translated into social concern for all
other residents of his village gave will to take this task which made him a “mountain
man”. “Do not wait for God. Take charge yourself and start working hard. Who
knows God himself is waiting for you.”-Manjhi gave message to the world.
Dashrath Manjhi was born in a poor
untouchable caste of Bihar probably Musahar caste in year 1934. Exact date of
birth may not be available, as even today labourers/backward people seldom care
for recording birthday of their children. Dashrath Manjhi belonged to Gehlaur
village, near Gaya in Bihar. At very young age he ran away from his home and
reached Dhanbad. There he got opportunity to work in coal mines. That has
broadened his mind. There he realized that though the task is tough, they are
given wages in cash. More wages may be earned by doing more work. By this way a
person may earn good livelihood and respect in the society. After eight (approx.
from movie) years, he returned from home, as different person with different
personality in shirt pants. For his community he was like a babu. Unknowing he
fall in love with a women, who happened his own wife married to him in
childhood. Because of his poor family condition, Phalguni’s father was marrying
her somewhere else, but he took charge and fled her from her home amid the
resistance of relatives’ of her and married. Both started living happily. (Source:
Manjhi) At some point he was also beaten
by upper caste people for touching them in response to Government declaration
for ending untouchability. There were incidences where upper caste people used
to molest this poor woman, but due to fear they didn’t fight back. Though he
faced such problems personally, he never supported naxal movement and believed
by doing hard work of carving out path from mountain, he would be able to
change the heart of his villagers making a more lovable and dignified society.
Villagers has to cross mountain for work purposes. While crossing the mountain, her wife as being pregnant fatigued and slipped from the mountain and died. This sparked the mind of Manjhi and resolved to make way through the mountain so the rest of people will not have to face such difficulty.
“When I started
hammering the hill, people called me a lunatic but that steeled my resolve.”-Manjhi
He
completed the work in 22 years (1960–1982). This road reduced the distance
between the Atri and Wazirganj sectors of the Gaya district from 80 km to
10 km. Though mocked for his efforts, he has made life easier for people
of Gehlour village. Although he had cut a protected mountain, which is an
offence under Indian wildlife protection act, his exemplary determination
remains an inspiration.[2][8] Later,
Manjhi said, “Though most villagers taunted me at first, there were quite
a few who lent me support later by giving me food and helping me buy my tools.” (wiki)
Manjhi,
in true sense, symbolizes the power of a common man and deserve to be the icon
of Navodaya Mission. He taught us it is the power of love which will make our
society a better place to leave. He in true sense symbolizes the concept of
reconciliation between two opposite groups in the end as thought by Gandhiji.
The road should be celebrated as symbol of love. Like Shahjahan, he spent 22 years for making road in name of his wife on his own.
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