the mountain breaker's story
74This is a story I just HAVE to write. This is a story I MUST write if I can write at all. This is a story I would have tried to write even if I could not write two straight sentences.
This is story some of you may have heard and forgotten , this is a story some of you may have seen and ignored, this is a story which some of you may have read and thought not worth paying attention to.
I have GOT to write this story not for the likes of you but for that one person who may read it for the first time and find his GOD. If I can get this across to just that one person and get that person fired up- I Neelesh Kulkarni would have changed the world.- and if that person inspires just one more person - then between us we would have changed the universe. Now the story -
Once upon a time there was a village and it was called Poorvasha. Hardly a village really , but more a collection of discrepit thatched mud huts in the poorest part of India. A hamlet inhabited by the poorest of the poor, in worse condition than the broken down huts they lived in. A village where as many as ten or twelve people would share one hut and barely eke out a living working on the farms of the landholder who would pay them a pittance and throw in a bushel of grain once in a while for twelve hours of back breaking labor. A village where two square meals meant a celebration of life! Where children grew up devoid of any form of education or any opportunity to move out of the dehumanizing drudgery their parents and their parents before them had gone through for centuries. A village where not only was there no sanitation but the nearest health care center was some eighty kilometers away along a dirt road moving around the hill .
Since times immemorial there was the hill. The hill that faced the village and effectively cut the village off from the nearest road, the nearest school and the nearest hospital.. The hill that only the hardiest could climb and which most villagers skirted around over the longish dirt track if they wanted to connect to any form of civilization. The hill and the village had stood as they were for centuries – the village giving the hill a name – the hill near Poorvasha- and the hill blocking the villagers from anything worth putting a name to. An uneasy equilibrium had settled since times immemorial - the village reconciled to the hill , the hill glumly secure in the knowledge of its invulnerability- till it met Dashrath Manjhi.
And then there was Dashrath Manjhi – on that day in 1982 , fifty three years old, barely five feet tall , as much a skin and bones contraption as any of his co villagers. Like them occupying a broken down hut whose occupants often slept hungry because his twelve hours at the landlords farm never got enough for two meals every day. Like them someone who had accepted his misery as his due till the day his wife fell sick and was unable to survive the eighty kilometer journey to the hospital. That was the day when in 1982 Dashrath with neither money in his pocket, nor food in his belly or anyone by his side decided that the hill HAD to go and every evening after completing his regulation hours of the landlords farms set out with just a hammer and chisel in his hands to destroy it.
On some days he would work till the light gave out, on other days he would work half the night under the moon light but on all days he would hammer at the hill alone as the hill fought back by refusing to budge and the villagers gathered to mock his foolishness. Advice was aplenty, as were insinuations of insanity. Well meaning people tried to explain that such things did not happen- that men did not part mountains and even his children decided they were not going to have anything to do with a mad old man who had let his obsession get over his duty to his family. And through all this every single day after day Dashrath would smile at those that came to mock and then lift his hammer, place the chisel in the crevices in the hill and let the hammer down. And the empty surroundings would boom with the combined laughter of all hills in the world
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and the months into years. The children of the village grew up into young men and had children of their own, Some of those that mocked at times stayed on to chip in a bit, some dropped a few coins into the box he kept near the hill while still others dropped in some food. What did not change was that solitary figure, albeit slightly bent now, trudging to the hill after twelve hours of work every evening and raising a hammer to bring it down on the chisel that after twenty two full years brought down the mountain.
Where there was the hill there was now a road- a road that would ensure that no Manjhi lost a wife or a child because they could not survive the long 80 kilometer trek to the hospital the distance to which was now reduced to just 13 kilometers! The sick could now be taken to hospital, young men could go to town to work, children could attend school in town- all because one solitary, weak, resourceless man believed in himself “I never believed any mountain can be bigger than a human being” said he later.
I have his photograph framed and put up in my office. Those that visit me often ask me if that is any relation. I tell them I would have been honored to have been his relative but am content to be one who is blessed with the good fortune of being able to raise my eyes and look at a picture of GOD.
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thanks Ritu and i do hope many people read of him now.Could you all please chip in the ensure more and more people read just this hub of mine.
Bobbi.Degreek,jayb,Feline Diana please help get his message across
This is a wonderful hub telling us about a person, I admit, I knew nothing about, but I did look him up. Amazing is all I can say. Great hub and this hub is full of wonderful passion. Thanks for sharing this.
Good hub Neelesh. He is a hero for sure, and I hope his passion for doing the right thing is honored everyday.
What I wish even more is it helps people understand, unless individuals take stands on issues, unless "we the people" get involved at whatever level possible, no changes can be expected anywhere.
May there continue be many like Dashrath Majhi in our world!
Yes, I too have read about this man, but I really don't remember where. I will surely pass a link to my friends...
thanks bobbi ravin and uma.
i am fascinated and totally fired up by him.hope it inspires more and more people to stop cribbing about how we don't have the resources to do something we want to do
Neelesh,
I first heard about Dashrath Manjhi through an agency which did research for the Doordarshan show Surabhi. If I am not mistaken they did feature him on the programme.
He surely is an example of how to take things into your own hands instead of cribbing!
Beautiful narration Neelesh . I did hear of Dashrath Manjhi before this and reading it all over again and refreshing that sense of awe at his determination is a tonic to one's daily life . It reminds us to go that extra mile if we want our lives to leave an imprint .
It is a classic reiteration of "Faith moving mountains"
The tears were running down my face as I read this. How I wish I could have shaken this MAN's hand. Because his name should be written with capital letters when we refer to him. What a wonderful story. And I loved "and the hill blocking the villagers from anything worth putting a name to."
I am downloading his photo, to keep with photos of my loved ones.
shubha thanks for the comment
De greek coming from you this is high praise indeed. yes and when i was writing this my eyes also misted up often.
the small MAn can still win.
Beautifully written Neel. I had read about Dashrath Manjhi before, but your account was much more vivid.
Your story in fact reminded me of an English movie...I cannot remember the name, but it was again about people of a village who literally built a mountain. There was this whole lot of scoffing, but they believed in themselves and so came through. I suppose Faith does move mountains.
I wonder why I did not get the usual intimation of a hub published by you...I followed this one from FPR.
The Other Day I was Telling the story to someone in my Office. i Also remembered u N the past.......
thanks jogesh and diana. yes i think in my own small way i have contributed to HIS touching some lives.many seem to rememeber my telling of his story.
Dashrath Manjhi - i remember reading his story in the Times a few (?) years ago. after losing his wife, he decided that he just had to do something to remove that block between his village and health care facilities! so single handedly he chipped away at and finally after long years actually created a path through the hill! indeed a fantastic story of individual grit, determination and perseverance against all odds. wonderfully and passionately retold by you. thanks, neelesh!
What a beautiful soul stirring story Neelesh! Kudos to the Spirit of Man!....
thanks a pile rashmi and aparna . just remember the guy when the chips are down. the best homage one can pay
Neelesh, see what a good job you do when you're not trying so hard to be funny? :D
Just kidding...may Dashrath Manjhi continue to inspire you and a lot of others in the world.
thanks feline.and I beg your pardon- I am normally and naturally funny.
Hi!
This is amazing...what patience and motivation...and now I feel we crib about such small things in life ...look at what the man achieved!
Oh.. it made me cry..
I read De Greek's latest hub and this link with others were attached to his hub. I am so glad to have read this and it humbled me for sure. A man with determination can move a mountain and this man proved it with his perseverance and dedication to move it chip by chip.
In remembrance I'm sure to his wife who died on the long journey to the hospital 80 kms away and now shortened to 13. This was simply an amazing task, his God was in him to allow him to accomplish this for his people.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it left an impression in my heart. Peace my friend.
So touching and inspiring story. I hope that village people are finally thankful to him? ...Or they, maybe, take this road for granted?
Thank you so much for sharing.
@ m sorensen - this is a story that makes me cry every time i read it though i wrote it myself and still brings a lump to my throat even when i talk about it.we are not crying for him- we are actually crying for all the defeats in the world which we thought wer final and which we know now are not.
@saddlerider 1- i am glad i touched one mroe heart with this amazing story.I keep repeating myself but need to say this again- every time you think you have lost out just think of this solitary guy- pick up your chisel and hammer way- the mountain SHALL part.
@Tatjana-yes they are thankful and almost everything in the village is named after him.
De Greek shared the link to your amazing story, and I am very grateful! This made my eyes wet! Its stories like these that keep my faith that in the midst of mankind's cruelty there are indeed beings where the expression of God's love manifests so purely.
I love the way you told this story, its filled with passion and love. I have bookmarked this hub!
Neelesh,
A link from De Greek led me here. I will have to thank him.
This is an inspiring story about an amazing man told by a poet.
Dashrath Manjhi's determination and resolve transform him from a pitiful peasant, from a common man into a superman...someone worthy of admiration and reverence. And you are to be thanked for telling his tale and shedding light on this humble hero.
Your hub is poetic and I will share it with my children and anyone else I can.
Peace
CP
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story, Will share it along very happily :)
You wrote a great tribute which he deserves. He humbles anyone of us. A truly wonderful and inspiring human being showing what can be achieved with just determination.
@Violet sun,Chris, night hag, hello hello
in my culture it is said that there are times when Saraswati the Godess of learning herself comes down and settles in an individual and makes him do things in a certain way. The great MAN himself has always humbled me and now the fact that i have communicated the lump in my throat all across to you humbles me too.I am sure the Goddess chose me as a vehicle to express her thoughts about one of the LORD's favourite sons- Dashrath.
What an amazing spirit of sharing what he had to give! When I think of how stingily we all sometimes "give" - including my own self, it is humbling to know someone with almost nothing to call his own - EXCEPT HIS OWN SELF - gave it so abundantly and joyfully. It also warms my heart that YOU, dear fellow-hubber neeleshkulkarni, chose to use some of your "air-space" to bring us his story. And while I'm at it, thank you, De Greek for pointing your followers to come and read it, to be inspired, humbled, touched and awed by it.
If Saraswati led you to know our language, neeleshkulkarni, in order to bring this story even to this distant continent (and into its deepest state of Texas), then thanks to her, as well. It expresses and demonstrates the broherhood (and sisterhood, too, De Greek! ;-) - of humanity on this shrinking planet!
I can understand the anger, determination and endurance of Dashrath Manjhi, and I take my hat off for him. What I can’t understand: Why did NOBODY help him? What kinds of people watch a fellow-man work like that without giving him a helping hand?
I agree with Martie: What kinds of people watch a fellow-man work like that without giving him a helping hand?
In rocky Croatian mountains people also build such roads by their own hands and sweat to connect their isolated villages with civilisation - but there were always doing that together - all men in the villages worked, as well as women and also children were helping them as much as they could, without pressure...and roads were build much quicker, without suffering - with songs and proud, because they done that together.
Your story obviously has two sides - one is heroic one and the other is one of parasitism of majority.
I got this link from DeGreek and am very thankful. If I ever start to complain about any of my problems, I will think of this man. This was truly inspirational and I will never forget him. I have knots in my stomach after reading. I intend to tell everyone I know of this selfless man and I am printing your hub along with his picture to put on the wall of my home and office. Thank you so very much.
It is sad that there are so few left that truly believe...maybe this will help maybe not...but worth the try for certain...Thanks for a new look at Life...:O) Hugs G-Ma
As De Greek says, this is a MAN! More, this is a human being, in the best sense of those words. I had not heard of this person before and am humbled and in awe. To labour like that for 22 years, without help and without thought for self but only for others - that is the mark of a true human being.
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story - and thanks also to Dimitris (DE Greek) for sending me here to be educated!
Love and peace
Tony
Neelieanna- thanks for the kind words.and yes all humanhood (is this term ok Degreek) is the same.as one of the Veda's (Hinduisms ancient prime books)says "TAT twam asi"- you are HIM.There is the LORD in all of us and that LORD is open to different interpretations across organised relegeons but his essence remains the same.What is common across the world is that we forget that he resides inside us- and people like Dashrath open our eyes to the infinite possibilities that exist within us and then we cry for all the ones we let go.
and by the way English is my almost first language tooo/ lol
@Martie and
Tatjana
-they did not really stand aside all those 22 years. later people came in the pitch in as best as they could. but maybe 2/3rd of the work was done by him alone.
yes we do stand aside whenw e see suffering- and we do justify the standong aside too- apathy is a diease which i guess afflicts all. maybe people like this give us wake up calls on it.
yes here too we have many example of people who have built small dams, made roads, cleaned up rivers by working together.what makes this herois is his having done it all alone
Beautiful story and told so well! What a stirring lesson in conviction, and the power of taking small steps towards a seemingly overwhelming tasks.
yes it is the stuff legends are made of except that when we read them as pat of our myths we think they are exagerrated. this is contemporary and real. thanks for dropping by
Thank you for your writing such a light to help those in the dark.
i must admit that it was not really me.Dashrath was always there in my mind and i do think he wrote himself in here.thanks for dropping in and DO think of him when the chips are down and chisel away slowly and surelyyy....
Thank you for sharing this heart warming story. We speak of love like a commodity to be exchange or bartered wih. Without selfless action it is meaningless.I think Dashrath found joy in his endeavor of love. that was what kept him going through those years.
I came by way of Christopher Prices poem. Amazing story of love and determination, true grit for sure.
One person really can make a difference.
They laughed at Noah also, and only his family was saved. We really need to think about how we can help daily, when we see people in need. THERE IS DIFFENENTLY A MORAL STORY HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING. Lets all examine ourselfs and stop laughing at the needy and pitch in and HELP!!!!
thanks pjlamb,amchomemaker,ralwus,silent reed
i personally think that when he started off he had himself probably nothing to go on besides the thought that this needed to be done and he HAd TO DO IT.IF HE HAD EVER STOPPED TO CALCULATE THE ODDS IT WOULD NEVER HAVE GOT DONE.what all of us tend to do is accept defeat by calculating the odds against us all the time and deciding we wouldn't be able to do stuff.We need to stand up for the power of ONE and just keep doing what we can do with no thought to the odds and that is when miracles do happen.
A wonderful story of a great man. Words that would attempt to define him would never be great enough. God Bless You for this knowledge.
A wonderful story of a great man. A wonderful way to start my day. I cannot believe that I have not heard of this giant person before...posted up and beautiful... as it deserves.
I found this hub via the words of Twilight Lawns. Am so pleased I read your piece on this inspiring man. Your story telling is wonderful. Thankyou Neelesh.
@Stars, twilight,jewels
the man has been my constant inspiration for years. whenever i think a thing cannot be done i retreat to him and gain strength.I am glad i could let his life also touch many other lives all over the world.
i wrote this hub and have read it countless times and yet reading it can still bring tears to my eyes.I suddenly realised while rereading it today that at least once before i die i want to go and kiss the soil of the road that dashrath built.
I can't thank enough my friend who shared this link on Facebook. I'm falling short of words. The way you presented this story was brilliant. It really gave me chills. I guess Manjhi had to go through the pain of losing his wife to become insanely determined and fearless. Someone's pain becomes someone else's gain! These are the people who become driving force for millions. Thank you for writing such an inspirational story.
thanks for the comment anjali. i still get the chills everytime i read this story or even think about it.It is not me- it is the strength of the man that caused the writing to be what it is.
This story proves that one person determined to do a good work is literally mightier than a mountain. Thanks, Neelesh.
L.T.
Neelesh..what a great story and also beautiful story writing! Thank you very much for sharing it. It is inspiring and eye opener in many ways. Imagine the determination and compassion this man had!! I wonder why nobody felt like joining him??? Is it a reflection of today's selfish world!
lt fawkes thanks a tonne for reading it. like i said if it inspires one person once anywhere in the world to get over seemingly unsurmountable adversity I would have done my duty to the great man.
it is great seeing you here Shama.People do not join not just becasue they wer selfish but because they thought it couldn't be done.Most of us write oursleves off so easily that we never let the power of our being human take us where we lought to be.It takes people like Dashrath to teach us that.
Dear Sir,
I have read somewhere that strange things happen when men and mountains meet.India is studded with gems like Manjhi. Kudos to you that you brought it forward for all of us to read and be inspired. My search for heroes end here. Thanks for this. You've got a follower.
Lots of Love,
MAKUSR
Makusr "My search for heroes end here".I could not have thought of ever putting it better.I have a photograph of him right where i can see it in my office so that any time i feel the odds are stacked against me I can look at him, just lift my chisel and hammer away till the mountains part.
Thanks ! for the wonderful reality...
thanks so much deepa for dropping by.
Phoenixritu 19 months ago
I first read of Dashrath Majhi online and then read his story in an article written by you. Often I tell the story to others. He is a great modern day example of what focus on a goal and determination to achieve it can do! I truly admire the man