Dashrath Manjhi -The Mountain Man

Dashrath Manjh was born in 1934 in the Bihar village of Gahlour, close to Gaya, into a poor family of labourers.The "Mountain Man," Dashrath Manjhi, is a legendary figure who demonstrated that nothing is insurmountable. His life serves as a moral example of how a little guy lacking in resources and strength may take on a powerful mountain..

At a young age, Dashrath Manjhi fled his home and returned to his hometown after spending seven years working in the coal mines of Dhanbad.He and Falguni Devi were married.

One day, while carrying a heavy pregnancy, Falguni had to climb a mountain in the intense heat to take her husband to the fields for lunch. Unfortunately, as Dashrath was waiting for the meal, Falguni's foot slipped and she went from the mountain. Then, Dashrath received word from someone in the hamlet that his wife had fallen from the mountain. In a panic, Dashrath drove her blood-splattered wife to the closest hospital, which was 70 kilometres away. There, they pronounced her dead but discovered a baby girl inside of her.

Manjhi was horrified by the incident very much. The heartbroken Manjhi, who had the utmost affection for his wife, made the decision that no one else would ever experience the same destiny as him. He made the decision to cut a road out of the mountain by himself. Although everyone in the town believed he had lost his mind, his vision was kept alive by his love for his wife, who tragically passed away after the injury.

Dashrath thought it was just him and the mountain and had little faith in the red tape of the government. He bought a hammer and chisel and sold three of his goats.He made a road through the rocks of Gehlour Hill that was 360 feet long (110 metres), 25 feet deep (7.7 metres) in some places, and 30 feet wide (9.1 metres). He said, "People called me crazy when I started hammering the hill, but that strengthened my resolve."

The project took him 22 years to finish (1960–1983). The Atri and Wazirganj sections of the Gaya district are now only 15 km apart thanks to this walkway, formerly 55 miles. He has improved the lives of those living in Gehlour village despite being made fun of for his efforts.

At the age of 73, Manjhi succumbed to gall bladder cancer at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on August 17, 2007. He had received a state funeral from the Bihar government. Prior to his passing, Manjhi signed a contract giving away the "exclusive rights" to film a biopic on him.

Manjhi earned the nickname "Mountain Man" for his accomplishment. In the social service sector in 2006, the Bihar government also suggested his name for the Padma Shree award.

Manjhi's unwavering resolve to chisel the massive mountain sends a powerful message: if one has his sights set firmly on his objective, all obstacles can be overcome. 

-DASHRATH MANJHI