This is the story of an ordinary man. He was among India’s poorest of poor. He decided, if those in power would not help his people, he would. This is a man who believed in the Do-It-Yourself spirit! Without pausing for a thought, he went ahead and did just that with his bare hands. This is the story of Dashrath Manjhi: the man who moved a mountain, so his people could have access to amenities like hospital, schools and jobs in nearest town.
It was 1960. Landless labourers, the Musahars lived amid rocky terrain in the remote Atri block of Gaya, Bihar, in northern India. In the hamlet of Gehlour, they were regarded the lowest of the low in a caste-ridden society, and denied the basics: water supply, electricity, a school, a medical centre. A 300- foot tall mountain loomed between them and civilisation.
DASHRATH CARVED A ROAD SO HIS PEOPLE WOULD NO LONGER DIE TREKKING 70 KILOMETRES TO BASIC AMENITIES
After 22 years, Dashrath Das Manjhi, the outcast landless laborer had conquered the mountain: he had carved out a road 360 feet long, 30 feet wide. Wazirganj, with its doctors, jobs, and school, was now only 5 kilometers away. People from 60 villages in Atri could use his road. Children had to walk only 3 kilometers to reach school. Grateful, they began to call him ‘Baba’, the revered man.
His community was regarded the lowest of the low in a caste-ridden society, and denied basics - water supply, electricity, a school, a medical center. A 300- foot tall mountain loomed between them and civilization.
But Dashrath did not stop there. He began knocking on doors, asking for the road to be tarred, connected to the main road. He walked along the railway line all the way to New Delhi, the capital. He submitted a petition there, for his road, for a hospital for his people, a school, water.
The government rewarded his efforts with an award, But Manjhi returned, “I do not care for these awards, this fame, the money,” he said.
On August 17, 2007, Dashrath Manjhi, lost his battle with cancer. All that he had done was for no personal gain. “I started this work out of love for my wife, but continued it for my people. If I did not, no one would.” Manjhi’s words reflect the reality of our country.
Now its our turn, Suport Milaap Organisation
we are working with the Dashrath Manjhi Trust to build a school for the children of Gehlour village.
The school would not only educate the young but would also conduct an employment training school to help the local youth to earn their living.
We are rallying to raise funds to build a school in Manjhi's village that will empower the children - they will have better opportunities beyond the hard labor or unemployment they endure.
Your contribution of Rs. 500 can help us educate one child in Manjhi's village. We are rallying funds to educate 1000 children in Manjhi's village through this campaign. Every little support matters - your contribution would help the families and their children who have been economically backward and deprived for decades. It’s time to pick up the hammer ourselves and make Manjhi's dream of building a school in his village come true.
It will help them to carve their own progress, create their own jobs, and build their own opportunities. Once the funds are disbursed to Manjhi's trust to build this school, we will send you an update on how the funds were utilized and the impact your contribution made!
