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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
