Manjhi needs to be honoured and with the highest civilian award...Dashrath's feat came about in a selfless way and the man worked relentlessly for 22 years without any resources,

Dashrath Manjhi (1934 – 17 August 2007), also known as "Mountain Man",was a poor labourer in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar, India, who carved a path through a mountain using only a hammer and chisel.He carved the path in the Gehlour hills so that his village could have easier access to medical attention, after his wife Falguni Devi died from lack of medical care in 1959. The nearest town with a doctor was 70 km away traveling around the hills, or along a treacherous pass through the hills. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km

Dashrath Manjhi carved a path 360-foot-long (110 m) through-cut, 25-foot-deep (7.6 m) in places and 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) to form a road, through a mountain in the Gehlour hills, working day and night for 22 years from 1960 to 1982. His feat reduced the distance between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of the Gaya district from 55 km to 15 km, bringing him national acclaim. Though initially mocked for his efforts, this only served to strengthen his resolve. But as time went by, the unfazed farmer continued to split the troublesome hill in half, he started getting some help. "Though most villagers taunted me at first, there were quite a few who lent me support later by giving me food and helping me buy my tools," he remembered. Now all the people of Gaya district have nothing but gratitude of the "Mountain Man" who made their lives so much easier.

For his feat, Manjhi became popularly known as the 'Mountain Man'. He died on 17 August 2007 at the age of 73, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Manjhi the 'Mountain Man' needs to be honoured and with the highest civilian award

References

1."Love's labour brings down hill". Expressindia.com. (24 May 1997).

2."Mountain man Dashrath Manjhi dies in Delhi". Hindustan Times. (17 August 2007)

3."The man who made way for progress". Indian Express. (2012-09-22)



