26-12-2016: Dashrath Manjhi Personality Series: Bihar A commemorative postage stamp

Dashrath Manjhi, also known as “Mountain Man”, was a poor labourer in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar, India, who carved a path through a 360ft long, 30ft wide and 25ft high hillock using only a hammer and chisel. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened travel between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55km to 15km. Dashrath Manjhi was inspired to taken up this enormous task when one day while crossing Gehlour hills to bring him launch, his wife slipped and fell seriously injuring herself. Due to non- availability of urgent medical attention, she eventually died. Manjhi was deeply disturbed by this and that very night he decided to carve a path through the Gehlour hills so that his village could have easier access to medical facilities.