ANI News Bapurao Tajne

A man in India broke new ground in his village. Bapurao Tajne spent 40 days digging a well after his wife attempted to draw water from the well of someone of a higher caste and was denied — and humiliated — in a drought-affected region of Maharashtra, India. "I came home that day in March and almost cried,” Tajne told The Times of India. “I resolved never to beg for water from anybody. I went to Malegaon (the closest town) and bought tools and within an hour I started digging."

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Tajne is a poor laborer, and could not quit his job to dig the well, so he would wake up early and dig for four hours before work and then shovel for another two once he got home. He said the spot for the well was chosen by instinct. "I prayed fervently to God before starting the job,” he told TOI. “I am thankful that my effort has been rewarded." Because of his lack of knowledge and experience, his entire village, including his wife, thought he’d gone mad and openly mocked him -- especially since three wells had dried up due to the drought. “I was ridiculed by my family among others, but I was determined,” Tajne told The Press Trust of India.

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