Manjhi: The Mountain Man Who Broke a Mountain For His Love

Hello Steemians, its the last few hours of 2017. The countdown is on. This year has been a great experience for me as a member of Steemit community. I got a chance to interact with people around the world and received a lot of love from them too. Some of the Steemian were blessings for me in this six months journey since I joined Steemit. To name some, @jakipatryk, @ruth-girl, @nitesh9 and @steve1122 holds the top position in this list. I want to thank all the members of this community who helped me directly or indirectly in this journey. Lastly, I want to thank my followers for loving my contents and helping me grow. I wish you all a "Happy New Year" in advance. I wish the new year be a healthy, wealthy, happy and prosperous year for you all.

Today, as a last post of 2017, I am posting the inspirational story of an illiterate labourer who set an example of selfless love by breaking a mountain. I am sure you will love it and start the new year with a positive attitude in mind.

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How much could you do for your better half? How much pain could you withstand? Could you break a mountain for her? Yeah, we say it, "I can bring the moon for you" as a romantic line for her. But, could we actually do it? But, do you know, an illiterate labourer in India had actually done it and tagged his name in golden letters in the history and has set a symbol of love for generations to come.

India is a Land of Eternal Romance. People visit India to see the Taj Mahal(one of the seven wonders of the world), a symbol of love built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in the memory his wife Mumtaz Mahal. However, he could built it on the cost of his wealth. Does it mean that the stories of the poor are less significant? Isn't the Taj Mahal an insult of the poors.

The Taj Mahal[Source]

There was someone else who proved that life of the poor also has a story. Manjhi, a poor and illiterate labourer in Bihar state of India was the hero of this story. Manjhi broke a rocky mountain by working for 22 years single handedly using only a hammer and a chisel, as a revenge against the mountain for his wife's death. I suggest my steemit friends, if you plan to visit the Taj Mahal, make sure you also visit the path that Manjhi had carved out of a mountain . You'l return with an inspiration in mind.

Manjhi Towards the Later Years of His Mountain Mission[Source]

The Story of the Mountain Man, Manjhi

Dashrath Manjhi was born in 1934(the date is still not known) in the Gehlaur village near the historical city of Gaya in Bihar state of India. He was illiterate and fled away from home at an early age and worked as a coal miner at Dhanbad, the Coal Capital of India. As a young boy he returned home and married Falguni Devi of his village. He started working in the village itself as a labourer. His wife used to bring lunch for him by crossing the rocky mountain in the village. One day while carrying the lunch, Falguni slipped continuously and fell down from the mountain. She breathed her last in a hospital in the nearest town, Wazirganj. Manjhi was mentally broken. He madly loved his wife. Her death stormed his life in a second.

The next day, depressed and angry Manjhi embarked on a revenge, a revenge against the mountain. He picked up a hammer and a chisel and reached the mountain. Manjhi to the mountain,"You hold a lot of ego, right? Wait and watch how I bring your ego down." And piece by piece he starts breaking the rocks on the mountain with his hammer and chisel. He wanted to carve out a path to the other side of the mountain to make it easier for the villagers to reach the hospital because of which Falguni had lost her life. At this, his fellow villagers started calling him a lunatic. But he never gave ear to them. He was determined at his decision. When he was asked,"How do you bring so much of energy?", Manjhi replied, "Its love, there is infinite strength in love."

A Still of Manjhi Breaking Stones[Source]

Every morning he would reach the mountain and hit the hammer on the stones throughout the day. Days passed, months passed, years passed, but he didn't stop. Rains, storms, thunders, nothing could melt his mind. His love for Falguni was stronger than the rocks. Later his villagers started supporting him and provided food to him and helped him buy his tools. Many people started visiting him among which most were from the news channels. Later, at someone's suggestion Manjhi reached Delhi for government support for his work by walking on foot along the railway tracks. However, the promises of the government did not turn around. But, it could not break his determination. He kept on breaking the stones.

After working for 22 years(1960-1983), Manjhi finally carved a path 110 meters long, 9.1 meters wide and 7.7 meters deep out of the mountain. This path shortened the distance between Atri and Wazirganj town of Gaya district from 55 km to 15 km. Though his villagers mocked at him at first, he made life easier for them.

The Path Carved by Manjhi[Source]

The story of Manjhi spread across the country and people started calling him, "The Mountain Man". Many reporters from state as well as national TV channels started visiting him. Many started making documentary on his life. In 2011, a documentary based on his life was released with the title, "The Man Who Moved the Mountain" directed by Kumud Ranjan. In 2015, the bollywood movie, "Manjhi, the Mountain Man" was released and was received by the country with love. The was directed by Ketan Mehta in which the critically acclaimed versatile actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui played Manjhi and Radhika Apte played the role of Falguni Devi. His inspirational story was showcased in various movies and television programs across the world.

Readers can watch the trailer of the bollywood movie, "Manjhi: The Mountain Man" below(I could not find the English subtitles for it. Inconvenience is regretted"

The Government of Bihar proposed his name for Padma Shree award in 2006 in social service field, which is the fourth highest civilian award in India. As a tribute a postal stamp was released in his name by India Post, in the "Personalities of Bihar" series on 26th December, 2016.

On 17 Aug, 2007, at the age of 73 Manjhi died of gall bladder cancer in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in New Delhi. He was honored with state funeral by the Government of Bihar.

Manjhi set an example of selfless love for generations to come. He proved that if your determination is strong you can achieve anything. He proved that strong self-determination is the key for success. I hope the story of Manjhi inspires you to succeed in anything in your life.

A Real Footage of the Dashrath Majhi Path

References:

• AAMBAR'S REVIEW: MANJHI: THE MOUNTAIN MAN(2015)
• Nawin Nav: Dashrath Manjhi
• Youtube Channel, "Milaap": Dashrath Manjhi - The Man Who Broke A Mountain Alone
• Youtube Channel, "First Edition": MOUNTAIN MAN, DASHRSTH MANJHI, ALIGARH,SHAHID IMAM

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If you love dreaming and learning science then please follow me, @physics-o-mania

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• Youtube Channel, "Sanprapt": Dashrath Manjhi a Real Video Story from Bihar

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