The fascinating tale of a man who moved a mountain for his village and people.
Many a time you encounter such stories of courage and grit that it makes you believe that if you set your eyes on some goal and work tirelessly to achieve it, you can even move mountains. Trust us; it is not a metaphorical statement. Somebody did move a mountain with the sheer power of determination and patience. It is a story that would inspire and motivate you. It is the story of Dashrath Manjhi, a poor labourer from Bihar, India.
Who was Dashrath Manjhi?
Dashrath Manjhi was born in Gehlur village in the Indian state of Bihar. A labourer by profession, he was a common man fighting to provide basic amenities to his family. Gehlur, the village he was from was a far-flung area surrounded by mountains. The village did not even have necessary and basic facilities such as medical facilities or even clean drinking water. If you, unfortunately, had a medical emergency, you had to cross Rajgir hills or take a round of hills to reach the nearest town, which was approximately 55 km away.
The day that changed everything
One day when Dashrath Manjhi was working in a field on the other side of the mountain, his wife slipped and died while crossing the mountain to bring him his lunch. She died due to lack of medical assistance on time, because of the mountain. This incident pushed Dashrath to the brink of despair, and he vowed not to let anyone suffer the way he has suffered.
A Man against a mountain
He sold his cattle, and with the money, he purchased a hammer, Chisel. He started a herculean task of splitting the mountain to make way. In this way, the distance of 55 km to reach the nearest town would be cut to half. Many of the villagers demotivated him and called him mad. But that didn’t deter him from his mission. It is said that he was so motivated and devoted that no matter whether it was rains, drought, winter or summer, he worked tirelessly. This impossible task took 22 years to finish, but in 1982, when Dashrath Manjhi was 53 years, he finally carved the path.
His accomplishments
Thanks to his efforts, because of the path he carved, the distance between Atri and Wazirganj was reduced from 55 km to 15 km. This road is now used by people of more than 60 villages.
What is now proved was once imagined. Dashrath Manjhi’s tale teaches us that.
