“All I want is a road, a school, and a hospital for our people. They work so hard. It will help the women and children in our village. ”
“All I want is a road, a school, and a hospital for our people. They work so hard. It will help the women and children in our village. ”
- Dashrath Manjhi
Fifty-five years ago, Bihar’s 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi broke through a 300-foot mountain that blocked access for people in his village to doctors, schools and jobs in the nearest town. Armed with just a hammer and chisel, he hacked through the mountain for 22 long years, and carved a road 360 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
This road reduced the distance from his village of Gehlour to Wazirganj town from 75 km to 5 km. People from 60 villages in Atri could use his road. Children had to walk only three kilometers to reach a school. The government rewarded his efforts with an award, but Manjhi reportedly returned it, “I do not care for these awards, this fame, the money,” he had said.
“I started this work out of the 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.
On August 17, 2007, Dashrath Manjhi, lost his battle with cancer. To this day, Manjhi’s community in Gehlour lives in poverty, with no access to schools and jobs.
Watch Dashrath Manjhi’s inspiring story in this video and how a school in his village is finally set to bring the progress he hoped for:
Crowdfunding platform, Milaap is working with the Dashrath Manjhi Trust to build a school for the children of Gehlour village, Bihar. The funds raised will empower Gehlour’s youth to carve their own progress, build their own opportunities, and access better paying jobs beyond the hard labour or unemployment they endure.
The author works with Milaap.org
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