Gayaji: Dashrath Manjhi, known as the ‘Mountain Man’ for cutting a road through a hill in Bihar, lived in a small kutcha house all his life. Even after his death, his family continued to live in the same mud house for 35 years. Many leaders, including Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Jitan Ram Manjhi, visited their house but no one built them a permanent home.
A few months ago, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Dashrath Manjhi’s village in Gayaji. Seeing the poor condition of their house, he promised Manjhi’s son, Bhagirath Manjhi, that he would build them a concrete house with four rooms. Now, the construction work has started and the family is very happy.
Bhagirath said that Rahul Gandhi kept his promise without any show or publicity. Earlier, when he asked Jitan Ram Manjhi for a permanent house, he had replied, “What is the problem with a kutcha house?” But Rahul Gandhi understood their problems and did what governments could not do for years.
He added that Rahul Gandhi has great respect for his father. During their meeting, Rahul Gandhi even asked Bhagirath if he would like to contest the assembly elections from Bodh Gayaji. Bhagirath said he is ready if Rahul Gandhi wants him to contest.
