CM Samrat Choudhary Pays Tribute to Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi

Key Takeaways

Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary paid tribute to Dashrath Manjhi on his death anniversary on August 17 .

Manjhi, from Gehlaur village, Gaya district , carved a 360-foot path through the Gehlour Hills entirely alone.

The project took 22 years and reduced the village-to-town distance from roughly 55 km to 15 km .

Manjhi used only a hammer and chisel, with no government or institutional support.

He passed away in 2007 ; the carved path remains a landmark in Gaya, Bihar .

Bihar political leaders across parties routinely mark his anniversary, reflecting his enduring place in the state's public memory.

A labourer with a hammer and a chisel. No machinery, no government grant — just 22 years of solitary resolve. On the death anniversary of Dashrath Manjhi, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday, August 17 offered a heartfelt tribute to the man who carved a mountain open with his bare will.

Posting in Hindi, CM Choudhary wrote: 'माउंटेन मैन' — the Mountain Man — 'को कोटि-कोटि नमन' (a million salutations). He described Manjhi as a symbol of 'indomitable courage, unbreakable resolve, and extraordinary labour,' adding that his life teaches us 'that with strong intent and continuous effort, even the greatest challenge can be overcome.'

The man who moved a mountain for his village

Dashrath Manjhi was born into poverty in Gehlaur village, Gaya district, Bihar. When his wife was fatally injured after a treacherous climb around the Gehlour Hills — a detour that villagers were forced to make because there was no road through — Manjhi picked up a hammer and chisel and began cutting. He worked alone, dawn to dusk, for 22 years, eventually carving a 360-foot-long path through solid rock. The passage reduced the distance between Gehlaur and the nearest town from roughly 55 kilometres to just 15, transforming access to hospitals, schools, and markets for an entire community. He died in 2007, but the carved corridor through the Gehlour Hills stands as one of independent India's most extraordinary acts of individual public service.

A Bihar folk hero, a recurring political touchstone

Across party lines, Bihar's political leaders mark Manjhi's death anniversary with public statements — a ritual that speaks to how deeply his story is woven into the state's identity. The tribute connects with rural Bihar's lived experience of infrastructure gaps and the grinding cost of distance. CM Choudhary's post, carrying the hashtag #DashrathManjhi, fits that pattern — invoking perseverance at a moment when Bihar continues to grapple with rural connectivity and development challenges. The Gaya district site draws visitors year-round, and the carved path remains a quiet monument to what one person, without any institutional support, can achieve. Some battles are won not in parliaments or boardrooms, but one chisel-strike at a time — and Bihar has not forgotten who proved it.

Point of View

Honouring regional folk heroes serves a dual purpose: cultural connection and a soft reaffirmation of development themes without requiring a specific policy announcement. The tribute carries no new policy weight, but its timing on the death anniversary and its reach on social media keep Manjhi's legacy alive in public discourse, which itself exerts quiet pressure on governments to deliver on rural infrastructure around the Gaya site.

NationPress

17 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Dashrath Manjhi and why is he called the Mountain Man?

Dashrath Manjhi was a labourer from Gehlaur village in Gaya, Bihar , who spent 22 years single-handedly carving a 360-foot path through the Gehlour Hills using only a hammer and chisel, earning him the title 'Mountain Man.'

When did Dashrath Manjhi die?

Dashrath Manjhi died in 2007 . His death anniversary is observed annually and is marked by tributes from political leaders across Bihar.

What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Dashrath Manjhi?

Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary described Manjhi as a symbol of 'indomitable courage, unbreakable resolve, and extraordinary labour,' saying his life teaches that 'with strong intent and continuous effort, even the greatest challenge can be overcome.'

How much did Dashrath Manjhi's carved path reduce travel distance?

The path Manjhi carved reduced the distance between Gehlaur village and the nearest town from roughly 55 kilometres to just 15 kilometres , dramatically improving access to hospitals, schools, and markets.

Where is the mountain Dashrath Manjhi carved located?

The carved path runs through the Gehlour Hills in Gaya district, Bihar , and remains a visited landmark in the region.