The real story behind Manjhi – The Mountain Man

With the trailer of this movie released, the search to learn about the man who single-handily dug through a mountain is quickly peaking everyone’s interest. But what it also highlights is the pressing need for better and more accessible healthcare in India. Based on one man’s mission to help his village have better acess to medical attention, Manjhi — The Mountain Man is definitely an eye opener.

Who was Manjhi?
Dashrath Manji was a poor labourer from Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar. Soon the man fell in love with Falguni Devi, who he later married. The couple was happily married for a few years before his wife died of injuries she sustained when she slipped and fell from the Gehlaur mountains. She was making the treacherous climb, as all the villagers had to, to procure water and other daily necessities. In an effort to save her, Manji tried to seek medical help but the nearest hospital was 70 kilometres away and the only way to reach it was either around the hills or over its treacherous terrain.

Falguni Devi died in 1979, and that is when Manji’s effort to carve a path through the hill started. Initially mocked for his idea, Manji stuck with his resolve, and over the next 22 years dug a path through the hill with only a hammer and chisel. Towards the end of his trails, Manjhi (affectionately renamed as the Mountain Man) received help from other villagers who gave him food and water and helped him buy tools. In the end, the tunnel was 360 feet long, 30 feet high and 30 feet wide. He is said to have worked all day and night to achieve this enormous feat, shortening the trip between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town by 40 kilometres.

Manji later died in 2007 after a battle with cancer at the age of 73, before his dream of seeing a solid road being constructed over the path he built was completed.

In recognition of his efforts, his son and daughter-in-law, Bhagirath Manjhi and Basanti Devi were invited to Satyamev Jayate where Aamir Khan dedicated his first episode to this hero.

Lack of proper medical care is a rampant problem in a vast country like ours, and it’s about time we took notice and bridged the gap.

Here’s the movie trailer:

Originally published on www.healthsite.com