Dashrath Manjhi

Dashrath Manjhi, also known as Mountain Man, was a poor labourer in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar, India, who carved a path 110 m long, 9.1 m wide and 7.6 m deep through a hillock using only a hammer and chisel. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km.Early life and workDashrath Manjhi ran away from his home at a young age and worked at Dhanbad's coal mines. He returned to his village and married Falguni Devi. While crossing Gehlour hills to bring him lunch, she slipped continuously and seriously injured herself, which eventually led to her death. Manjhi was deeply disturbed and that very night decided to carve a path through the Gehlour hills so that his village could have easier access to medical attention. He carved a path 360-feet-long (110 m), 25-feet-deep (7.7 m) in places and 30-feet-wide (9.1 m) to form a road through the rocks in Gehlour hill. He quoted that, "When I started hammering the hill, people called me a lunatic but that steeled my resolve."He completed the work in 22 years (1960–1983). This path reduced the distance between the Atri and Wazirganj sectors of the Gaya district from 55 km to 15 km. Though mocked for his efforts, he has made life easier for people of Gehlour village. Later, Manjhi said, "Though most villagers taunted me at first, there were quite a few who lent me support later by giving me food and helping me buy my tools."DeathManjhi died on 17 Aug 2007 at the age of 73, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar.