With hard work, grit and determination, a grief-stricken man believed and achieved. Shernaz profiles him in this verse – exclusively for Different Truths

To the terrain that had battered him
and taken away his dear wife, he stood up
like a rock. With guts, he challenged
I will not let you come out the victor
 
his only allies  
a chisel, a hammer, grit, and patience
calloused hands, his muscle power,
the intensity of sorrow, his tenacious mainstay 
unwavering intent became steadfast courage
 
all by himself, jeered at, branded a madman
this guy with a mission pounded away...
after twenty-two gruelling years
his indomitable spirit triumphed.
With each stroke shuffling towards his goal
he made the way because he had the will
The ‘lunatic’ now became Manjhi, the ‘Mountain Man’.  
 
Too late, the accolades, recognition, eulogies
and honour of a postal stamp! A film
on his life garnered more awards than  
his unrelenting struggle of two-plus decades!
The government constructed a metal road
to his village - four years after his death,
fifty-two years after he had begun his tough grind!

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Shernaz Wadia

To Shernaz Wadia, reading and writing poems has been one of the means to embark on an inward journey. She hopes her words will bring peace, hope and light into dark corners. Her poems have been published in many e-journals and anthologies. She has published her own book of poems “Whispers of the Soul” and another titled “Tapestry Poetry – A Fusion of Two Minds” with her poetry partner Avril Meallem.