INSPIRING LIVES: Dashrath Manjhi – The Mountain Man
The Tragedy That Sparked a Mission
- In 1959, Falguni Devi, the wife of landless laborer Dashrath Manjhi in Gehlaur, Bihar, slipped on a rocky ridge while bringing him food
- Due to the lack of a direct road, the nearest medical doctor was 55 kilometers away around the mountain ridge
- Tragically, she passed away before receiving treatment, prompting Dashrath to take matters into his own hands
The 22-Year Struggle
- In 1960, Dashrath sold his goats to purchase a hammer and chisel
- He resolved to carve a path through solid quartzite rock, earning the initial ridicule of his fellow villagers who labeled him a lunatic
- He labored at his regular job by day and hammered through the mountain by night and dawn
- Over time, the mocking ceased, and villagers began offering food and better tools to support his effort
Breaking Through the Mountain
- In 1982, after 22 years of relentless effort, Dashrath successfully carved a path measuring 360 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 25 feet deep
- His monumental feat reduced the travel distance to the nearest town from 55 kilometers down to just 15 kilometers, giving children access to schools and the sick access to healthcare
A Lasting Legacy
- Dashrath continued advocating for a properly paved road and even walked on foot along railway tracks toward Delhi to petition the Prime Minister
- He passed away in 2007 and was honored with a state funeral by the Bihar government
- The road was officially paved in 2011, serving thousands of people daily through the passage he hand-carved out of devotion and resolve
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